FARMVILLE — With 21 teams competing, the 17th Feast of the East heated up the Farmville community Saturday, with cooking teams doing their best to take home the coveted title of Grand Champion.
The cookoff tradition, held at the National Guard Armory on West Horne Avenue, serves as the only fundraiser for Farmville Boy Scout Troop 25.
“This allows the boys to have scouting events, helps buy badges, supports highlight trips, and supports our camping trip,” said Scoutmaster Justin Cole. “It’s a one-day event. It allows the boys to get out and thank the commuting for supporting the troop.”
Scouting has always been an important asset in Farmville and the community of Farmville showed up Saturday in droves to support the cause, organizers said.
“The town supports the Troop more than I’ve ever seen in my life,” Assistant Scoutmaster Bob Allard said.
This year’s cookoff was special because it was dedicated in honor of former scoutmaster and longtime scouting friend Jerry Flanagan, who died Dec. 6. For as long as most could remember, Flanagan was a supporter of Troop 25. He had served as scoutmaster, taught scouting lessons and was himself an Eagle Scout.
“He meant a lot to scouting. I can’t ever remember a chili cookoff without him. He’s been a guide for us for a long time,” said Jerry’s nephew and Eagle Scout Arch Flanagan.
Allard added, “He dedicated a lot of time to these boys. We relied on him for a number of different things. We would call him up and he would always help us out. He was our go-to guy.”
Arch and his team, “Team N.C. State,” came to support the cookoff and carry on the tradition of Jerry. Using Jerry’s paddle, burner and pot, they worked to create a spicy chili.
“I get to carry on that tradition. I don’t know how well we’ll live up to (Jerry). He was good at this whole thing,” Arch said.
Eagle Scout Cody Cannon of Greenville was happy to continue in the tradition of the cookoff as he competed with his traditional chili.
“When I was a scout, I worked the cookoff. It has always been a part of scouting. It’s all I’ve ever known,” Cannon said, adding it just felt right to compete again.
Assistant scoutmaster James Swafford of Farmville has been participating in the chili cookoff in some capacity for nine years. This is the second year he has competed hoping his “secret ingredients” would put his chili on top.
It was the first time competing for Jimmy Mort of Raleigh, who made a mild chili, and for Kim Jordan of Greenville, with her traditional chili.
“It’s for a good cause. I’ve never made chili in a professional way or competed with others. I figured I’d try my hand,” Mort said.
Jordan added, “Mine is cooked with all my love.”
In the end, there could only be one grand champion and that honor belonged to Chuck Johnson of Farmville. Johnson also took home Cook’s Choice.
“It feels good. I’m just supporting the troop. Everything they do is important,” Johnson said.
Returning after a 10-year hiatus where he took home cook’s choice and second place in the mild category was Wes Thomas of Farmville along with his sons Corey and Kaiden, 12. They were hopeful when entering the competition. It paid off with the father-and-sons team taking home first place in the mild category.
“It feels good, especially, being able to do it with my sons,” Thomas said.
Second place in the mild category belonged to Kyle Alfred, while the team of Brad Roberson of Winterville and Joe Jeansonne of Farmville took home third place.
“I think scouting is important, especially today. We have a lot of single-parent families,” Jeansonne said, adding scouting teaches life lessons and skills. “I think it’s important for boys and girls to be in the scouts and become self-sufficient.”
The top People’s Choice prize belonged to Arch Flanagan and his team Brittany Cunningham, Cooper Bolz, Cherise Hinkel and Ciaron Crowder, all of Raleigh. They also took home third place in the spicy category.
Second place in the spicy category belonged to Robert Hughes, while Aletha and Bob Cummings took home first place in the spicy category.
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