Special to The Hays Daily News

Winners of the Golden Ladle trophy at the Humane Society of the High Plains' 15th annual Soup'R Bowl were Ann Gottschalk, Valery Rule and Erin Farber of Nex-Tech.

They made green bean dumpling soup.

Contestants competed Sunday afternoon at the Ellis County Fairgrounds Schenk Building.

"Old Clunker" chili created by Mike and Laurie Gottschalk of Hays Auto Parts finished second.

Third place went to Crystal and Andrea Robben and Kristen Heffel of Robben Oil, Victoria, for their green bean dumpling soup -- a great, great-grandmother's recipe.

Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin served cherry and apple pies and banana splits.

Joan Wilhelm won Rose Clark's patchwork quilt, and Gabrielle Chittenden won Sherry Leiker's whimsical cat quilt.

More than 600 guests ate soups and desserts, such as French Silk tarts, strawberries and angel food cake dipped in chocolate, cinnamon rolls and Kentucky bourbon pecan chocolate pie.

The event for the humane society raised $4,436, which will be used strictly for medical expenses for the animals.

No animals with health problems will go untreated.

Also with those funds, more animals will be spayed and neutered to make them more adoptable.