The 15th annual chili cook off to benefit Habitat for Humanity couldn’t be dampened by a little rain as chili was a flowing at the county complex Friday despite the event being pushed indoors.

Tecia Puckett-Pryor who is on the development committee for Habitat said the chili cook off and the Fiddler 5K are the biggest fundraisers for Habitat for Humanity which aims to build a new home every year – the price tag usually adding up to $55,000 to construct a new house.

“We love to have it outside on court square but when we can’t, it’s great to have it in the complex,” she said of the rain-induced move inside.

Pryor said the cook off usually draws about 400 and, given the packed house Saturday, the rain did not hurt the turn out very much.

“The community loves it,” she said, noting there were two new teams, the county health department and city police department that joined the list of 10 teams in competition including Wilson Bank & Trust, Janney & Associates, Smithville Electric, Liberty State Bank, DeKalb County Officials, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, First Bank and Evins Mill.

Guests voted for the winning chili, trying samples from each vendor before turning in their ballot.

Pryor said the funds will be put to good use in constructing affordable housing although there will be much more fundraising to do throughout the year.