Hometown Heroes celebrated with Chili Cookoff Saturday

Hosted by Tractor Supply as part of its Hometown Heroes promotion

VERY TOP PHOTO: Closeup of Jacksboro Assistant Fire Chief Dewey Madison’s chili.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Campbell County’s first responders were celebrated on Saturday with a Chili Cookoff event hosted by Tractor Supply as part of its Hometown Heroes promotion. The event featured chili made by multiple first responder agencies, including White Oak Volunteer Fire Department, Stony Fork Volunteer Fire Department, Jacksboro Fire Department, LaFollette Fire Department, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department, the LaFollette Police Department and the LaFollette Rescue Squad.

This is the fourth year the store has held the Hometown Heroes event.

Judges for the event included LaFollette City Council member Stephanie Solomon and her husband Dewayne Solomon and City of LaFollette Administrator Stan Foust.

At the start of the cookoff, LaFollette Tractor Supply Store Manager Tracy Cooper presented LaFollette Rescue Squad members with a $500 check from Tractor Supply. There were also different prize packages for the winning chilis. Prize packages/gift cards were donated by local businesses including Hollingsworth Meat Market, Greeneview Farms Market, Charley’s Pizza, The Local, Sidelines, Walmart and Tractor Supply.

“This event is our way of supporting our local first responders and recognizing them as hometown heroes,” Cooper said.

There were six categories of prizes to be awarded.

White Oak Volunteer Fire Department won first place in the “Judges Pick” category with their chili cooked by White Oak Volunteer Fire Department captain James Williford and his wife Mary.

Stoney Fork Volunteer Fire Department won 2^nd for their entry with the “Most Creative” Category, which was cooked up by Joe Marlow.

LaFollette Police came in third with the “Best Specialty Chili” category and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department took 4^th place with the “We’re Glad You Showed Up” category.

Jacksboro Fire Department Assistant Chief Dewey Madison won 5th with the “Most Traditional Chili Category, while LaFollette Fire Department earned the “Hottest Chili” Category win!

“We had a great time with the event and appreciate all the support from the public and local businesses and most of all, we appreciate our first responders who are the real heroes; they don’t get enough recognition, and we’re honored to be able to host this event,” said LaFollette Tractor Supply Manager Tracy Cooper. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/03/2025-6AM)