By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Hundreds gathered Sunday at the Ellis County Fairgrounds for the Humane Society of High Plains Soup ‘R Bowl.

The Soup ‘R Bowl is the main fundraiser for the Humane Society with all the proceeds going to the care of the animals.

Twelves businesses and organizations served soups and chilis to event goers, who paid $7 each for tasting kits. Each kit contained tickets to vote for their favorite dish.

The winning business this year was Fur is Flying Pet Grooming with chef Bunnie Bowen, who made a Creamy Reuben Soup. Bowen will be the keeper of the Golden Ladle for the next year.

The event also offered a large variety of desserts, door prizes and a raffle drawing. The Humane Society produced a cookbook with all of the soup recipes, which sold out.

Final fundraising totals and a head count won’t be available until later in the week. However, Alicia Tripler, board member, said she was pleased with the turnout.

About 600 people attend the event last year, and Tripler said she hoped the event would reach at least that threshold again this year.

She said she wanted to thank all the people and organizations who helped with this year’s event, especially Fort Hays State University.

The university baseball team help set up for the event, Alpha Kappa Psi members volunteered, Victor E. Tiger was on hand, and the Athletics Department donated football tickets and provided green bean dumpling soup, which ran out before the end of the event.