Sparks 15th Annual Chili Cook-Off was a huge success
Smyrna, TN – The 15th annual Chili Cook-off held last Saturday brought together community members for a day of friendly competition, great food, and community spirit.
Chili Cook-off Winners:
Mayor’s Choice: Frann Dunn
1st Place: Sharri & Scott Butler
2nd Place: Christopher Carter
3rd Place: Dan McAnally
The competition was judged by Mayor Mary Esther Reed, Christy Armstrong Pugh, Judge Terry Fann, and Commissioner Rick Hall.
Community Support and Participation:
The event featured approximately 45-50 classic cars from the Mid-Tenn Hot Rodders car club. Special birthday recognition went to Rod Roberts, owner of Murfreesboro’s Mr. Fix It, ironically, Rod, a mechanic, won a toolbox generously donated by Elders Hardware.
Organizers expressed gratitude to Rodger Thomas, Tony Campbell, Alicia McFarland, Marty Luffman, Lori North, Tracy Gray and others for helping organize and gather door prizes, and to Paul Lamb and his musicians for providing live entertainment. Michael Morton provided the PA system for the event.
Generous Sponsors and Donors:
– Bean Brothers BBQ
– Buster’s Place
– Janarty’s Ice Cream
– Front Street Pub
* TNT Fireworks of La Vergne
– Eric Richie & Crusader Auto Works
– Lowe’s (donated three buckets of tools and car cleanup supplies)
– Cedar Crest Golf Course (Ivan Fleming donated course pass)
– Heavenly Treats at Victory House
– Kumon Math and Learning (donated gift cards)
The event also served as a food drive for local pantries, raising a few hundred canned goods. Pastor Brenda Bryant and Deborah Balthrop expressed appreciation for the generous donations, with special thanks to Tony Campbell for his substantial contribution and tow truck delivery assistance.
WTN 99.7 FM Supertalk’s Matt Murphy and entertainer 
Many of the roughly 250 attendees remarked on the positive interactions among sheriff candidates Kenneth Barrett, Trey Mansfield, and Steve Spence, who were seen talking and laughing together throughout the event. “It was refreshing to see,” one attendee noted. “Our world could certainly use more of it.”
The event, which continues to grow in attendance and community impact each year, demonstrated the strong sense of community spirit in Smyrna and Rutherford County.
Below: Rutherford County Commissioner Pettus Read performs his reenactment of Charles Davis, the father of Sam Davis.
