Basin Electric: Cooks, coats, and a good cause

Five Basin Electric employees from Co-op Café at Headquarters in Bismarck, North Dakota, put their cooking skills to the test for a chili cook-off.

Each person prepared a large batch of his/her favorite chili recipe, and employees had the opportunity to sample all five recipes and place their vote for their favorite.

Jesse Schutte, Basin Electric facilities supervisor, had the winning chili recipe, so his chili can be ordered at Co-op Café for the rest of soup season.

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Each of the five chilis had a colored sticker on the side of the container, and employees voted via an online form for their favorite.

The chili cook-off was done in correlation with a coat drive put on by BisMan Stilettos, a group of professional business women with a common commitment to serving our community. Seventy-four coats were collected, and the $500 raised from the chili cook-off was used to buy additional cold weather gear for those in need in the Bismarck-Mandan community. Everything was donated to Closet 701, The Banquet at Trinity Lutheran Church, and Carrie’s Kids.

“It was a lot of fun doing this event,” says Tina Wetzel, Basin Electric food services coordinator. “Not only did we get to be creative and a little competitive, but it all went to a good cause so that made it even better.”

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Michele Blumhagen (left) from BisMan Stilettos receives the donated coats from Jennifer Holen, charitable giving coordinator at Basin Electric.