New, larger venue in place

By Dan Nienaber

MANKATO — When Amy Vokal realized ChiliFest had become something bigger than expected last year, Lorraine Little was the person she called to get things simmering.

There were about 1,000 people to feed, so the chili the 20 or so contestants made for what is now an annual competition wasn’t going to go around.

“I called Lorraine and said, ‘I think I got over my head. Can you help me out?’” said Vokal, a commander with the Mankato Police Department. “I think she made 80 gallons for us.”

The event started last year after area firefighters, police officers, deputies and ambulance crew members decided to put their bragging to the test. They had been talking smack for years about who could make the best chili.

When officer Jason Bennett’s daughter was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that is most common in infant and toddler girls, they had a cause to get ChiliFest started. This year, the group of contestants has expanded to include letter carriers, a family farm and some families of girls with Rett syndrome.

Each contestant is to make 4 gallons of chili, so samples will be available for everyone to taste. Little will have 50 more gallons of chili ready to go, and 30 more gallons will be ready to heat up quickly if needed. Macaroni and cheese will be provided for kids and others who don’t care for chili.

“We’re hoping to have at least 1,000 to 1,200 people this year,” Little said. “We’ve had longer to work on it, and we’re much more organized.”

The event, which has been moved to Buster’s Bar and Grill this year to handle the large crowd, includes prizes throughout the day, live music by Fish Frye and other entertainment, a large silent auction and a bake sale. Celebrity judges, including Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau, will be tasting the chili and choosing winners.

Trudy Kunkel, also a Department of Public Safety commander, is the reigning ChiliFest champion. She said she’s asked for extra space at the event this year so she can do what the ribbers at RibFest do: display the trophy for her Firehouse Chili.

She’s been working on this year’s batch for days.

“I just cook it really, really slow,” Kunkel said. “I start with the meat and just keep adding ingredients.

“There’s a lot of smack talking going on right now. I have a ton of fun and it’s for a great cause.”



If You Go
What: ChilifFest Vets & Rett event

When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

Where: Buster’s Bar and Grill

Why: Raise money for Minnesota Rett Syndrome Research Association and Mankato Veterans Memorial Place

Cost: $5 includes chili feed

Web: www.mankatochilifest.com