09/07/2026
🌶️🏆 Another Head of Elm Chili Cook-Off is in the books! 🏆🌶️
What a great weekend we had September 5 & 6 at the Head of Elm Chili Cook-Off in Saint Jo!
Our cook-off is proudly CASI sanctioned, which means our cooks weren’t just cooking up some amazing chili—they were competing for points toward qualifying for the CASI Terlingua International Chili Championship in Terlingua, Texas!
🌶️ THANK YOU TO OUR COOKS!
A huge thank you to all of the cooks who traveled to Saint Jo and competed with us. We appreciate the time, travel, hard work and, of course, all that great chili! You are what makes this event possible.
❤️ THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!
A special thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to help judge the chili contest. We couldn’t do it without you!
⭐ A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS! ⭐
Our MAIN SPONSOR — First State Bank — thank you for your generous support of the Head of Elm Chili Cook-Off and our community!
We also want to recognize these wonderful sponsors who donated prizes and helped make the weekend extra special:
• Barbara Larsen — Painted Boots
• Roy Craig — Painted Hat
• Cindy vonRee — Insulated Mugs
• TK Resale — “Dead Ass Last” Awards 😂
• The Gas Station of Saint Jo
• Hess Meat — Donated Ribeyes 🥩
And a BIG thank you to everyone who donated items to our Silent Auction:
• Saint Jo Farm & Ranch
• Rowdy Exchange
• RWP Offroad
• Mel’s Knife Shop of Saint Jo
• Community Lumber
• Eldred Farm & Cattle
• Debbie Dennis
• Ward Cattle Company
• Melissa McPherson
• Melissa Chaffin
It truly takes a community to put on an event like this. To our cooks, judges, volunteers, sponsors, donors and everyone who came out to support us — THANK YOU!
We appreciate every one of you for helping make the Head of Elm Chili Cook-Off another great Saint Jo weekend! 🌶️🏆❤️
