Twenty-one chili teams participated in the 18th Annual Habitat for Humanity Chili Cook-Off and Bake Sale last Friday at the DeKalb County Courthouse. Over 600 bowls of chili were served and $9,300 was raised for Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County. The funds will be used towards the building of the next Habitat house in 2023.

Habitat of Humanity officials say that this was the most successful cook-off since it began in 2004.

“The Courthouse Gang” from DeKalb County Officials took the top prize in the competition, with the “Top Gunners” from Amvets Post 101 coming in second. Third place went to “First Finest Chili” from FirstBank.

The Best Decorated Booth Award went to Smithville Electric System, with “The Courthouse Gang” from DeKalb County Officials coming in second place, and “Great Bowls of Fire” from the DeKalb County Fire Department placing third.

The Golden Spoon Award went to “The Courthouse Gang” from the DeKalb County Officials, who raised the most additional money for Habitat in cash donations at their booth, with Smithville Electric coming in second and the “DCHS Biting Tigers” from DCHS FCCLA coming in third.

Others participating in the event were “DeKalb Democrats” from the DeKalb County Democratic Party, “Great Bowls of Fire” from the DeKalb County Fire Department, “Dr. Crow’s Chili Shots” from DeKalb County Health Department, “Spot On Chili” from DeKalb Market, “Chil…i To the Bone” from DeKalb Prevention Coalition, “Snatched from the Fire” from First Baptist Church, “Blazin Broncos” from Galaxy Ford, “The Loan Rangers” from Liberty State Bank, “Marines” from Marine Corps League DeKalb VSO, “MTNG – Out of This World Chili” from Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, State Farm, Mallory Pfingstler, “Legal Limit Spice” from the office of Tecia Puckett Pryor, Attorney-at-Law/Center Hill Title, LLC, “Tennessee ‘Meats’ Texas” from WY Forge Co, “Hot Checks Chili” from Wilson Bank and Trust, Adoration Home Health, and Hywater Title.