Student Creates "Chili Roll" at NYBLS, Now an Engler Project

Alexa Carter of Rising City, Nebraska, said the idea came to her when she was explaining food items that are unique to Nebraska to another student at NYBLS who was from Kentucky. 

“We were trying to explain the Runza,” said Carter. “Then we went into explaining the chili and cinnamon roll combo. Then I got the idea, what if we combine the two.” 

Carter and her team created and coined the term, “chili roll.” They then presented it to a panel of judges, who chose their product as the winning creation and presentation at the 2022 symposium. UNL College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss was one of the judges and reached out to Carter about her product. 

“I emailed the dean, and we met in January,” said Carter. “I also met with Tom Field who oversees Engler, and the head caterer at UNL. I knew I wanted to go to UNL but that sealed the deal.” 

Now Carter is a freshman at UNL majoring in agricultural education and is involved in the Engler Entrepreneurship Program. She is working out the details and recipe of her chili roll and what selling it will look like. 

“I have gotten a lot of feedback,” said Carter. “It would be a very good concession or tailgate food. The goal is to have it at Husker sporting events by next fall.” 

When it comes to entrepreneurship, Carter has more ideas outside of the food industry too. She says that she did not have much background in cooking or food service before the NYBLS competition. 

“My sister is the cook in the house and was also at the contest, so she was kind of upset with me when I won,” joked Carter. “I seem to have interests in doing things I have no experience in. I’ve started a craft business, I’ve done a quick pitch competition for healthcare. I just like learning.”