Heartland hosts Chili Challenge for telethon fund-raiser
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Vickie Kirk and Sheila Brockman were the Carroll Shelbys of this year’s Heartland Chili Challenge Wednesday afternoon at Heartland of Hillsboro. Kirk’s chili recipe won the “Hot” category, and Brockman’s recipe was the favorite of the judges in the “Mild” division.
Darlene Roades and Meshell Strong earned second-place honors.
Heartland of Hillsboro, Kroger, NCB, Hillsboro Ponderosa Steak House, Wilkin-Wilkin Insurance, Buckeye Country 105.5 FM, and The Highland County Press sponsored the sixth annual event, which is held in conjunction with a chili supper and dessert auction Thursday, March 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Old Ponderosa Banquet Center in Hillsboro.
All proceeds go to the Highland County Society for Children and Adults.
Tickets ($5 for adults, $3 for children under 10) are available at the following locations: Heartland of Hillsboro, Kroger, NCB, Hillsboro Ponderosa Steak House, Wilkin-Wilkin Insurance, Buckeye Country 105.5 FM, and The Highland County Press or at the door.
This year’s Chili Challenge judges included: Rose Fisher-Merkowitz, Sharon Hughes, John Dodds, Shane Wilkin, Dick Zink, Ron Ward, Terry Mull, David McKenna, Suzanne Hopkins and Ron Priest.
Judges appeared to take their responsibilities very seriously.
However, there also was a good deal of fun, frivolity, and some good, old-fashioned trash talking.
Judge Suzanne Hopkins, who was seated at the “hot table,” chastised those “milder” judges who, as she put it, “couldn’t handle the spicier chili.”
Meanwhile, over at the “mild table,” judge Shane Wilkin received compliments for his conservation efforts by using the same spoon to taste 13 different chili recipes.
Those compliments were rescinded, though, after judges Rose Fisher-Merkowitz and Sharon Hughes pointed out that in order to satisfactorily taste each recipe, it was a “best practice” to use a clean spoon.
Wilkin offered a “mild” protest, but to no avail.
“This is serious business,” Merkowitz said. “You must use a clean spoon with each taste so there’s no leftover residue.”
Back at the “hot table,” judge Ron Ward and judge David McKenna (who, by the way, really is a Judge, as in the Hillsboro Municipal Court variety) could be seen going through copious amounts of ice water and doing equal amounts of brow-mopping.
After the 20 recipes were tasted, judges selected four winning entries.
Heartland of Hillsboro’s Debbie Rhude thanked all the judges, all the chefs, all the volunteers, and noted all of the proceeds from the event go to the annual Highland County Society for Children and Adults telethon.
The 38th annual telethon for the society is set for 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, March 31 at Merchants National Bank in Hillsboro and McClain High School in Greenfield.
Call 393-5766 for more information on the March 4 chili supper and dessert auction.[[In-content Ad]]
Darlene Roades and Meshell Strong earned second-place honors.
Heartland of Hillsboro, Kroger, NCB, Hillsboro Ponderosa Steak House, Wilkin-Wilkin Insurance, Buckeye Country 105.5 FM, and The Highland County Press sponsored the sixth annual event, which is held in conjunction with a chili supper and dessert auction Thursday, March 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Old Ponderosa Banquet Center in Hillsboro.
All proceeds go to the Highland County Society for Children and Adults.
Tickets ($5 for adults, $3 for children under 10) are available at the following locations: Heartland of Hillsboro, Kroger, NCB, Hillsboro Ponderosa Steak House, Wilkin-Wilkin Insurance, Buckeye Country 105.5 FM, and The Highland County Press or at the door.
This year’s Chili Challenge judges included: Rose Fisher-Merkowitz, Sharon Hughes, John Dodds, Shane Wilkin, Dick Zink, Ron Ward, Terry Mull, David McKenna, Suzanne Hopkins and Ron Priest.
Judges appeared to take their responsibilities very seriously.
However, there also was a good deal of fun, frivolity, and some good, old-fashioned trash talking.
Judge Suzanne Hopkins, who was seated at the “hot table,” chastised those “milder” judges who, as she put it, “couldn’t handle the spicier chili.”
Meanwhile, over at the “mild table,” judge Shane Wilkin received compliments for his conservation efforts by using the same spoon to taste 13 different chili recipes.
Those compliments were rescinded, though, after judges Rose Fisher-Merkowitz and Sharon Hughes pointed out that in order to satisfactorily taste each recipe, it was a “best practice” to use a clean spoon.
Wilkin offered a “mild” protest, but to no avail.
“This is serious business,” Merkowitz said. “You must use a clean spoon with each taste so there’s no leftover residue.”
Back at the “hot table,” judge Ron Ward and judge David McKenna (who, by the way, really is a Judge, as in the Hillsboro Municipal Court variety) could be seen going through copious amounts of ice water and doing equal amounts of brow-mopping.
After the 20 recipes were tasted, judges selected four winning entries.
Heartland of Hillsboro’s Debbie Rhude thanked all the judges, all the chefs, all the volunteers, and noted all of the proceeds from the event go to the annual Highland County Society for Children and Adults telethon.
The 38th annual telethon for the society is set for 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, March 31 at Merchants National Bank in Hillsboro and McClain High School in Greenfield.
Call 393-5766 for more information on the March 4 chili supper and dessert auction.[[In-content Ad]]