This year’s Chili Cook-Off brought the heat — from mild and comforting to bold and spicy. The competition was tight, the tasting table was packed, and the votes were flying.
When it was all said and done, Neil Falk took home the 2026 Chili Champion title with his Mild Homestyle Heaven Chili — a crowd favorite that proved you don’t have to scorch taste buds to win hearts.
We also had some fun firsts. Our new Florida District Manager visited Nebraska and tried the classic cinnamon roll with chili combo for the very first time — and officially became a fan. Meanwhile, our Colorado District showed up strong with two wild game chili entries that quickly became the most talked-about (and most requested) bowls of the day.
Great food. Great team. Great memories. Already looking forward to next year’s showdown.
