Parks Motors, in Augusta, KS, sponsored the first ever Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, October 22, 2014 in Downtown Augusta. It was 90 degrees outside and the sun was blazing hot, but that didn’t stop the crowd from coming out to taste some amazing chili!

The businesses all had their doors opened and were ready to feed people their creations. The event started with a movie halloween movie, Hocus Pocus, at 10 am and then from 11-1pm was trick-or-treat street. Children were in costumes, there was pumpkin decorating contest and they had several other activities for kids during this time, as well. The chili tasting started at 11:30 am and the winner, Genna McClure, was announced by a live DJ at 1:45 on the main stage. The cost was $5 for a kit  that got you a the ability to taste every chili at various stations set up and an opportunity to vote for the best one where you put a bean in the contestants jar. Augusta’s downtown streets were lined up with many chili stations, each contestant believing they had the secret recipe that was going to make them win the coveted $100 prize and title of best chili. I was able to try all types of chili recipes and the one that stood out for me was from a Peruvian native who used her secret peppers to give her chili a unique taste and it was amazing! The sponsors from Park Motors had a trunk full of candy, which they passed out to children as they walked by. The director of Miss Butler/Augusta pageant was there, Larry Strong and Juven Nava, with the recently crowned 2015 Miss Butler County, Kiah Duggins, and Miss Augusta County, Hannah Marie Wagner. The girls signed autographs at Fresh Couture in Augusta, they helped judge the Chili Cook-off, the costume contest, and they took pictures with the costumed children. It was a an awesome event and a nice gathering of people, one surely to become a new Augusta favorite.

By: Lilly Vasquez