MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - The main dining room at AdamsPlace Independent Living on Memorial Boulevard was already humming by 11 o’clock Thursday morning (2/26/2026) as residents, staff, and guests packed in for the fourth annual Chili Cookoff—now upgraded with a brand‑new cornbread division. Bowls clinked, napkins piled up, and the unmistakable aroma of simmering chili drifted through the room like a warm welcome.
Executive Director Terri Deal grinned as she watched the crowd settle in. “This is our fourth annual chili cookoff, and this year we’ve added cornbread. Entries are from residents as well as staff,” she told WGNS.
The cornbread addition turned out to be a hit, giving the judges even more to sample—and more reasons to reach for extra napkins. Those judges—Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland, County Commissioner Craig Harris, and WGNS’ Bart Walker—took their roles seriously, leaning in with enthusiasm and occasionally laughing at the growing mess around their tasting table. Every few minutes, someone swooped in to help tidy up, proof of just how spirited the sampling had become.
Chili Winners
The chili competition brought a tight finish. Chelsea Fancher with Senior Helpers earned the “top spoon,” but she graciously bowed out of the running, leaving AdamsPlace resident Ann Klumpp to claim first place. Bill Mills followed with a well‑earned round of applause, and Dave Wilson rounded out the top three—all proud AdamsPlace residents.
Cornbread’s Top Creators
Cornbread made its debut this year, and local resident Jerry Campbell didn’t just enter—she dominated, taking both first and second place with two different recipes. Lorna Grim secured third, adding to the friendly excitement of the new category.
Deal noted that the cookoff began as an idea from Senior Helpers four years ago and has since “exploded in popularity.”
The event is coordinated by Senior Helpers’ Chelsea Fancher and AdamsPlace Life Enrichment Director Patti Purdy, whose fingerprints are all over the event’s success. Purdy spends the year listening to residents, collecting their regional recipes and flavor traditions, and turning those into gatherings that feel personal and familiar. That’s what makes this cookoff more than a contest. It’s a reflection of the diverse backgrounds of residents who’ve moved to Murfreesboro from all over the country, bringing their spices, stories, and memories with them. Events like this help AdamsPlace feel less like a community—one bowl of chili at a time.
AdamsPlace Executive Director Terri Deal tells about the fun event:
