For Immediate Release:
February 15, 2012

For More Information:
Jenny Baertsch, Marketing Coordinator
507-454-9248

A grand total of $4,727.50 was raised for Ready Set School at the 18th Annual Chili Cookoff, sponsored by Winona National Bank on Saturday, February 11. The event raised $1,997.40 in sales and $2,730.10 in additional donations. A large crowd enjoyed chili from area restaurants and entertainment provided by Minnesota Genbu-Kai Karate and Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts Ballet.

Twenty chilies entered the competition from the following restaurants: Betty Jo’s, Blue Heron, Bub’s, Charlie’s D&D, Culver’s, Green Mill, Ground Round, HyVee, Jefferson’s, North End Pub & Grill, Rubio’s, Signatures, Timbers, Wellington’s, Winona Area Public Schools, Winona Health Catering, and ZaZa’s. All were judged by a panel of celebrity judges, which included Jenny Carpenter (Cotter Schools), Dave Dicke (HBC), Nikki Fennern (Saint Mary’s University), Debbie Greenwood (Winona Daily News), Dr. Judith Ramaley (Winona State University), and Steven Walker (Winona Radio). The results were as follows:

Spicy category: 1st place Signatures, 2nd place Jefferson’s, 3rd place Green Mill.

Mild category: 1st place HyVee, 2nd place Timbers, 3rd place Charlie’s D&D.

Public votes were compiled for the Public Tasters’ Choice Award, which was awarded to HyVee for their mild chili.

Ready Set School was created to ensure that all Winona County children have the basic and necessary school supplies to better succeed in school. Up to 35% of children in our county may come from families that lack the financial resources to provide supplies to their kids. Ready Set School is there to help those children.

For more information, please call Winona National Bank Marketing Coordinator Jenny Baertsch at 454-9248 or Ready Set School Coordinator Judy Richter at 494-0906.