2025

miCHILIgan

October 2 – 5, 2025

Yankee Springs Rec Area: Deep Lake Campground

C.O.R.E. Team

Event Director: Stephanie Arends
Activities Coordinator: Kelly Bougher
Meals Coordinator: Joshua Hazel
Logistics Coordinator: Ted Theisen
Marketing Coordinator: ____________
Raffle Coordinator: Stephanie Arends

Attendance

103 Guests

Classes/Workshops

Hammock Camping 101: Led by Fancey Nancey and phEOnix
Knots 101: Led by Kelly “Arborana” Bougher
Splicing 101: Led by Stephanie “Bootcut” Arends
Hammock Stands: Led by YOBO Gear
Guided Hike: Led by NCTA Chief Noonday

Awards

Chili Cook-Off

Best Traditional: Eli (Desert Chili)
Best Non-Traditional: Kelly ‘Arborana’ (Mushroom Chili)

Acorn Award

Fancey Nancey

Biscuit Contest

Gina

Raffle

$1,400 donated to the NCTA Chief Noonday Chapter.

More Memories

Weather: Thursday: 76°/46° ☀️ Friday: 85°/52°☀️ Saturday: 85°/60°🌦️ Sunday 82°/59° ☀️

2024

miCHILIgan

October 3-6

The hang was moved to the first weekend of October as to not compete with other hangs and allow vendors to attend.
UGQ returned as the grand sponsor and provided Friday dinner.
Attending Vendors:
- UGQ
- Majestic Hammocks
- Hang Tight Hammocks
- Wandering Goat
- Townsend Hammocks
- Cajun Outdoors
- Mountain Made Gear
Classes/Workshops:
- “Knotty” Class: “Knotty Queen” Kelly Arborana
- DIY Hammock / Gear Repair: Phill “Nanook”
The Board of Directors:
- Weekend Events Coordinator: Stephanie Arends
- Meals Coordinator:
- Marketing Coordinator: Steve C Wixson
- Logistics Coordinator: Ted Theisen
- Raffle Coordinator: Karla “withaK”
Chili Competition Winners:
- Best Traditional Chili: UGQ Papa Larry’s “Trad Dad chili”
- Best Non-traditional Chili: Kelly Bougher’s “Mushroom chili”
Acorn Award Winner: Jaxon Blayke
Raffle results: $700 donated to the NCTA Chief Noonday Chapter.
Weather: Thursday: 78°/49° Friday: 72° / 41° Saturday: 74°/ 65° Sunday 74°/48°

2023

miCHILIgan

October 12-15

Diesel & Karla “withaK” teamed up to resurrect the hang and ensure it didn’t die out. Once UGQ’s Paul & Missy McWalters confirmed they were ready to hand over the hosting responsibilities and instead participate on a different level, Diesel and Karla organized a Board of Directors.
Five main volunteer positions were created. Those are: – raffle coordinator, marketing coordinator, logistics coordinator, weekend events coordinator and meal coordinator.
Thursday night was officially added to the hang.
Name of the hang was offically changed to miCHILIgan
Squirrel mascot was started
UGQ returned as main sponosor. They hosted Friday night dinner and contributed top raffle prizes.
Stephanie Arends joined as Marketing Coordinator and at the hang took over as Weekend Events Coordinator.
Steve Wixson took over as Marketing Coordinator
Local NCT Chief Noonday Chapter agreed to store equipment for the hang.
$750 was brought in from the raffle. $550 donated to the NCTA Chief Noonday Chapter.
Chili Competition Winners:
- Best Traditional Chili – Eli Ruggles with his Sweet Chili
- Best Non-traditional Chili – Jerry with his Chicken Enchilida Chili
Stephanie Arends received the first ever Acorn Award. (The Acorn Award was created by Karla “with a k” to honor someone who has done something to help out miCHILIgan. It might be something large or something small to win this honor. The honoree will receive one of the 100 acorns from inside the award and add a piece of paper with a quote/poem/saying. Sometime in the future, someone will decide when a good time to open up and read those pieces of paper.)
Ted joined the Board as Logistics Coordinator
Weather: It RAINED all the time except for the group photo, raffle and chili cook-off