Entering through the cafeteria doors of Legacy, a lady waited to accept the five dollar admission fee and exchanged three tickets for tasting chili in return. The club’s sponsor, Mr. Brown, along with the students and cooks walked around to finish getting the cafeteria ready for the cook-off by setting up tables, refreshment stands and a stage for entertainment. Once settled, helpers and cooks sat at their stations to await the hungry chili testers.
“Put some rice with it to the side and put a little cinnamon in and it tastes perfect,” Coach Keel said while talking to one of the taste-testers at his table.
Participating chili cooks labeled their tables with unique names, including Golden Eagle Chili, JK’s Deli Cold Day Lunch Special, Edgar’s Extraordinaire Chili, Gingie’s Backyard Brew and Better Than Jimmie Don’s.
An announcer introduced the first performer of the day, Men of Tomorrow parent and a country music songstress voted Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Revue Association, Shelly Nap played music and sang old country songs.
“I am really smelling that chili over there. I can’t wait to taste it,” Ms. Nap said. “Y’all just keep doing what you are doing and I will provide a little entertainment.”
While Ms. Nap sang, the chili-tasters conversed with each other over the chili and other events they wanted to talk about. Picking up a microphone, a young man came up to the stage and announced the next performer for the cook-off.
“This is Zach and he is going to do magic,” the announcer said through the microphone. “I heard that what he does is really good and that you will enjoy it.”
Senior Zachary Smith stood in front of the audience on his magic stage by the windows of the cafeteria. Smith’s tricks included someone greeting him with a hug from the card they chose, swallowing a needle and then making it reappear, knotted on a string and then making half of a Sun Chip disappear and reappear in an envelope. The audience laughed and applauded after each act that Zach performed, along with a couple of side jokes. After the performance concluded, the audience continued with their conversations and the chili testing.
“Gingie has spicy and not spicy. The spicy has a strong kick to it after several bites,” sophomore Conor Smith said while trying out Gingie’s Backyard Brew before the choir entered to the stage. “It’s so good though. It’s not chunky its creamy.”
For the last performance of the cook-off, Legacy’s choir came and beautifully sang Vuelie from the movie Frozen and Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations. After the choir left the stage, Mr. Brown came to the stage and started to announce the winners of the chili-cook off.
“Everyone we really appreciate what y’all are doing for the men of tomorrow,” Mr. Brown said. “Thank you very much [and] congratulations competitors.”
Mr. Brown announced the third place prize of the Walmart 25 dollar gift card to Edgar’s Extraordinaire Chili and the second place prize of the Sams 50 dollar gift card went to The Best Chili. Finally, the first place prize of the Target 100 dollar gift card went to Better Than Jimmie Don’s but not without the laughter of the name. Coach Keel walked up to the stage and received his trophy and card.
Coach Keel and the contestants claimed their prizes and then went to take a group picture behind Better Than Jimmie Don’s table from directions by a photographer and Mr. Brown.
“Chili on three… two… one, chili,” the competitors said after the photographer counted them down. The wonderful tasting and smelling chili cook-off ended.
