Robert, I also cook the meat first and then add some onion before the other ingriediance. I also agree with you about the celery, I love it in deer stew but not in chili.
I like to do chili both with beans and without, but in either case not too many beans.
I'm going to make about 10 gal this time and I'll dip out two 8 qt dutch ovens full and season them seperately for the children and the less adventerous souls that show up.
I also have two quarts of Alabama moonshine that could help liven up the meal, or maybe put some of them to sleep