COAL GROVE — Wearing their Tri-State Industries badges and occasionally stirring their pot of chili, Richard Harris and Vicki Adkins offered more than just a meal Saturday.

As members of the Tri-State Industries family, they offered Chili Fest-goers the chance to see what can be accomplished if one sets one’s mind to it, be it cooking a pot of chili or overcoming obstacles to carve out a more satisfying life.

“It has a good aroma to it,” Harris said proudly, lifting the lid to his cooker and displaying his entry. “It has deer meat, Essence of Emeril and hot sauce.”

Whether or not it was an award-winning recipe, Harris’ and Adkins’ participation in the seventh annual Chili Fest, sponsored by the Lawrence County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities, was a lesson about life — and it was a lesson Paul Mollett, Lawrence County MR/DD superintendent, said he hoped everyone learned by the time they asked for their last bowl of chili.

“I want people to be aware that we are contributors,” Mollett said. “That’s our goal. I hope when people see something like this it increases their awareness, not only of the abilities that people have, but also that we can give back to the community — and this is for the community.”

The Chili Fest is an annual cap-off of sorts to a month-long slate of activities meant to raise awareness of MR/DD programs and how these programs benefit all of Lawrence County, but most particularly those with special needs.

The cause

Sheila Kay Kipp, of Scottown, wandered the TSI hall Saturday and sampled bowls of chili with her sister, Carol Malone.

“I work here,” Kipp said proudly. “I do a lot of work.”

McMaster said TSI has been a godsend to her sister, who would have nothing to do all day if she didn’t spend it at TSI.

Through TSI, Kipp has made friends, found something gainful to do with her time and found a purpose in life she might not have, were it not for this MR/DD program.

“I can’t describe it, it’s wonderful,” McMaster said. “If she just sat at home all day, she would get depressed.”

Trisha Ross, of South Point, also knows first-hand the benefits of MR/DD programs. Her daughter, Kate, who is 8 years old, has autism.

“One of the most important factors with autism and probably every disability is early intervention and that’s what here,” Ross said.

“She started at the early childhood center when she was three and went there until she was six. She’s at Burlington Elementary now. She’s in second grade. When she first started she didn’t talk at all. They worked with her a lot. Her vocabulary now, she can call me ‘Mom’. Without them I don’t know what we would have done.

“They made such a difference. It was the difference between being alive and just living. If they (MR/DD programs) had not been there for us Kate’s life would be so different. It’s the difference between existing and having a real quality of life.”

Melinda Suttles of Rock Camp said her sister, the late Diane Ferguson, attended first the Open Door School and later Tri-State Industries.

“It was wonderful,” Suttles said. “She would get up every day and come in, whether she felt like it or not. She loved this place. They do wonderful things for the people here, for the kids. This place meant the world to her.”

The community

In spite of an early morning drizzle, the Tri-State Industries facility was crowded only a half-hour after Chili Fest began. Some of the people came in search of the perfect bowl of chili.

Walter Bragg and his wife, Linda, of Burlington, do not know anyone served by Lawrence County MR/DD programs, but they came to Chili Fest.

“We came to see who has the hottest chili,” Walter Bragg said.

“We were here before and there was a man who had white chili,” Linda Bragg said. “It was delicious. I hope he’s here this year.”

Joyce Lewis, of Ironton, brought her 89-year-old mother, Myrtle Meyers, to Chili Fest.

“We just want to associate with such a great organization,” she said. “It’s a joy to participate. We were here once, year before last, and we didn’t get to come last year because I was out of town. But we had such a good time that I want to make this something we do every year. They work so hard up here.”

The Knights of Columbus comes every year, serving chili and showing their support for what one member said was a good cause.

“This is just something our organization believes in,” K of C member Brian Kelley said. “We believe in helping children and people with disabilities. That’s what it’s all about and this (directive) comes down from the Bishop of Steubenville.”

Others came because of that family connection. One of them was Phillip Howard, of Greenup, Ky.

“My grandson, Jacob Scott, goes to Open Door School,” Howard said proudly. “I come for everything they have.”

Rick Barton, of Coal Grove, has no ties to MR/DD but he comes every year to Chili Fest.

“I just think this is a great thing and it’s a good cause,” he said. Barton will do more for MR/DD than just eat Chili. He said he plans to “absolutely” support the MR/DD levy on the spring primary ballot.

Ruth Hopkins was one of the couple dozen crafters who sold handmade goods in a large room near the chili entries. She will also support the levy. She has no ties to local MR/DD programs but she has family members who live elsewhere who have developmental disabilities, so she understands what MR/DD programs can mean to those who need them.

“I think it’s needed,” she said of the MR/DD levy. “I think it’s needed to make sure these services continue.”

The chili

For many, the Chili Fest was a lighthearted competition to see who could wow those spectators with heat, spice or something rather unusual.

In a colorful poncho and over-sized sombrero, Wayne Pennington looked, well, rather Tex Mex, serving up bowls of chili to festival-goers.

The Friends of Ironton group snagged the senor-for-a-day, although he pointed out he is a bit of an illegal alien — at least in so far as the Friends of Ironton is concerned.

“I live in Hanging Rock,” he mused.

It was the first year the Friends of Ironton participated in the Chili Fest.

“We’re a non-profit organization and we wanted to get involved with other non-profit groups,” FOI member Jody Rowe-Collins said.

“It’s a good way to get out and let people know about events we have coming up, such as the Gus Macker Tournament and show our support for their (MR/DD) levy.”

Just around the corner from Friends of Ironton was another newcomer, the Coal Grove Volunteer Fire Department. Why did the fire department want to participate in Chili Fest?

“Because we know what hot is,” Debbie Sherman joked. “My husband (Fire Chief Gary Sherman) came home and said ‘we’re in the chili cookoff.’ But this is lots of fun and it smells great in here.”

In front of each booth was the list of ingredients of each pot of chili. While some of those recipes seemed similar, others had that one special ingredient that made it seem unique.

Sheree Doolin made the chili for the Easter Seals. What is her secret ingredient?

“Longhorn beef,” she answered.

“Someone had chicken in their chili,” WKEE radio personality-cum- chili judge Bill Cornwell said. “There was nothing dark in it. It had white beans.”

For the Ironton Kiwanis Club, green peppers and bay leaf provided that needed zing.

For the Hanging Rock Church of the Nazarene, the secret of success was in the number of people involved in the cooking. Chili Fest was a group effort. Young people at the church assembled Friday night and assembled the chili together.

For some groups, it was the little things that counted. Chili was served with extras meant to add a final, glorious touch to the top of their beef and beans concoction.

Tri-State Industries employees Robert Price and Roger Wroten served their chili with long green onions, chopped white onions, crackers, celery and cheese. Others sat trays of nacho chips or peanut butter sandwiches in front of their pots of chili.

Not only did the cooks try to outdo each other with culinary talent but with word-of-mouth advertising, too.

“Our chili,” said Kay Rader, of First Baptist Church of Ironton, “is soul-satisfying.”

MR/DD Chili Fest winners

People’s Choice

Knights of Columbus

MR/DD Family, staff

and employees

Chef TSI and crew

Business and organizations

Knights of Columbus

Media

The Ironton Tribune