Church Farm School ‘Scrapple-licious’ chili nets $1,000 prize

EXTON >> Church Farm School, the private boarding and day school for boys in grades 9-12 based in Exton, announced that in only its second foray into the competitive world of chili making, it took home the grand prize at the 14th Annual West Chester Chili Cook-off on Sunday, Oct. 9. The event, sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Chester, brought together nearly 70 teams of home chefs, businesses, restaurants and non-profit organizations (such as Church Farm School) along Gay Street for three hours of chili sampling.

Church Farm School, along with its caterer Sodexo, prepared 20 gallons of “Scrapple-licious Church Farm School Chili” for the event. The recipe included Scrapple as an ode to the school’s longstanding tradition of thanking its Annual Fund donors with Scrapple at Christmas each year during its farming era. In addition to winning the People’s Choice Award for receiving the most attendee votes via wooden nickels, the school also won third place for Best Decorated Booth. A small continent of the CFS Choir kicked off the festivities by performing the National Anthem.

“As we near our Centennial celebration in 2018, we look for more ways to connect with the community and the West Chester Chili Cook-off is one of those ways. Taking home the People’s Choice Award is a fantastic acknowledgement for the school, and we especially thank Sodexo for creating the winning recipe, and the many students and faculty who represented the school at the event,” says Ned Sherrill, Church Farm School Head of School. “Our thanks also to the Rotary Club of West Chester for the great work that they do.”

For the past six years, 100 percent of Church Farm School students have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities, many with substantial scholarships. In 2015, the school had both a QuestBridge Scholar (attending Princeton University) and a Gates Millennium Scholar (attending Swarthmore College).

For more information on Church Farm School, visit www.gocfs.net.

Shane Carter preps the chili in the school’s kitchen. Church Farm School thanked Sodexo, and especially chef John Whitaker, who came up with the winning recipe with alum and cottage faculty member Chad Pohlig.

Church Farm School students Tim Thomas ‘17, Shane Carter ‘17 and Nathan Antwi ‘18 proudly show off the school’s awards.

Lining up for chili at the Church Farm School booth

Lining up for chili at the Church Farm School booth