GOOD NEWS: Eagles chili cook-off attracts 34 cooks, raises $10,000

BIG SPRING The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 3188 Jan. 28 attracted 34 cooks and raised $10,000 for the West Texas Centers Children-In-Need Fund during their 10th Annual Chili Cook-off.

The Children-In-Need Fund was established in 2001 to assist families and adolescents receiving mental health services with limited resources. The fund helps families with costs outside the ordinary day-to-day living expenses.

“It is safe to say that without the Fraternal Order of Eagles and their annual chili cook-off, it would be difficult to maintain this fund,” said West Texas Centers Chief Executive Officer Shelley Smith.

Last year, the money raised during the chili cook-off provided Christmas for 134 children; school supplies for 192 children; and also assisted with football, baseball and camp registrations, the purchase of graduation caps and gowns, music lessons, theater camp, science fair entries and swimming lessons.

“They boost the self-esteem of the children which is extremely important,” Smith said. The cook-off attracted 34 cooks and many more tasters who sampled various creations.
“We had a very diverse selection of chili,” Smith said. “It was all very good and very difficult to choose a winner.”

First place went to the red green team of Guy White and Rodney Jones; second place, R&G Chili, Rodney Jones; third place, Ron Long and Doug Carson; fourth place, Guy White and Rodney Jones; fifth place, Fakawi Tribe, Flint and Vonda Wrye; sixth place, All-American Chili, Dalton Lewis; seventh place, Cindy and BaHan, Cindy Sturdivant and Dr. BaHan; eighth place, Illegal Aliens, Mike Calvio, Mike Ramirez and Bobby Cordova; ninth place, Dry Creek Cookers, Garry and John Hafernick; and 10th place, Twisted Sisters, Kelley and
Sheena Howell.

The Showmanship Award went to the Hot Chihuahuas team of Shelley Smith and Tresa Barclay. The Horses Award was present to the team of “Smurf,” Ron Sawyer.
West Texas Centers is the state-designated center serving people and their families with mental health and intellectual and developmental disabilities in rural West Texas.