COAL GROVE —Beans and beef brought in a lot of dough Saturday as approximately 1,000 people attended the 10th Annual Chili Fest and Craft Show for MR/DD Awareness.

“It’s a great day with everyone smiling and having a good time,” said Paul Mollett superintendent of the Lawrence County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Nineteen groups and individuals entered their best recipe for sampling and judging and they did not disappoint. For $1, those in attendance were able to sample each recipe and marked their ballot for the annual “People’s Choice” award.

“The chili this year was better than most,” said Lawrence County Commissioner Doug Malone, who also served as a tasting judge. Malone was part of a four-member celebrity-judging panel that also included fellow commissioner Jason Stevens, Clear Channel Radio’s Bill Cornwell and Brett Looney of the Dennis J. Boll Group and Shelter Home.

Judges selected winners in two additional categories: MRDD Families/Individuals/Staff award won by Tri-State Industries Habilitation Department and a Business/Organization award that was won by Abbott Home Care.

Tri-State Industries also took the “People’s Choice” award.

One exhibitor who drew a large amount of attention was first-year entrant Keith Taylor who served a mild flavored chili that on top of ground beef contained a special ingredient — prime rib.

“I had worked at Outback Steakhouse in Ashland some time ago and when I told the owner that I was entering the chili fest, he donated 11 pounds of prime rib specifically for my recipe,” Taylor said.

Taylor, whose 5-year-old son Jackson attends the Early Childhood Center in South Point came from Houston, Texas just for the event.

He said that besides the prime rib, his recipe contained more than 25 pounds of ground beef.

While sampling the chili, those in attendance were able to meander through the local arts and crafts vendors and watch live entertainment on the high school stage.

King’s Daughters Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center also had booths set up offering free cholesterol and blood sugar screenings along with blood pressure checks.

In its second year at Dawson Bryant High School, the chili fest served as final event in Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

The month kicked off March 2, with a Dr. Seuss Soup and Sandwich Night Celebration at the Early Childhood Center and with a balloon launch March 5.

It continued March 12 with the March Madness Basketball Games at Dawson-Bryant High School Gym and with a Science Night on March 19 at the Open Door School. The 2009 MR/DD Awareness Food Drive, will extend through April.

The Awareness Month theme for 2009 was “Just Like You.”

The Lawrence County MR/DD serves more than 500 children and adults throughout the county.

Services are provided at the Open Door School in Ironton, Tri-State Industries in Coal Grove and the Early Childhood Center in South Point.