Beautiful Beginnings won the Tasters Choice Award at the 2013 Charity Chili Cook-off, Saturday in downtown Great Bend. Those who bought a $5 taster bracelet were allowed to sample the chili from 11 entrants, and to vote for their favorite. The entrants donated the chili, and proceeds will go to the Barton County Food Bank, said Sarah Krom with Sunflower Diversified Services, event organizer.
Michael Beaver served Beaver’s JSBBY Chili, taking third place for Johnsons Smokehouse BBQ. Beaver called it “chili for meatitarians,” because it contained hamburger, pork, steak strips, bacon and sausage. “We’ve been at it for two days,” he said of the cooking effort. As tasters sampled his chili, Beaver said, “Thank you all for supporting a good cause.”
The Beautiful Beginnings entry, Ghost Pepper Chilli, was made by Aaron Jackson, a friend of an employee.  Jackson said the secret to the spicy chili was dark chocolate.
First- and second-place entries received trophies, and third-place entries received certificates.
A panel of judges met inside the Barton County Arts Center. Winners were named in three categories:
Team entries: Gail Carpenter and Jane Isern’s Barristers Brew, 1st; Sonny’s Secret Recipe - Spicy Mamas from Sunflower Diversified staff, 2nd; Diversified Mac, from the plant at Sunflower Diversified, 3rd.
Commercial entries: Ghost Pepper Chili by Beautiful Beginnings,1st; Beer Brat Chili by Cornerstone, 2nd; Beaver’s JSBBY Chili by Johnsons Smokehouse BBQ, 3rd.
Individual entries: Grandma’s Chili by Jennifer Klepper, 1st.
Other entries were WhiteZilla by Nex-Tech,  Mama’s Secret by Prodigal Ministries, Just Tossed It In by 3 Broke Mamas and 94 Chili by the 94 Store in Claflin.
Great Bend Taco and Dr. Jean Pringle were this year’s sponsors.