The Chili Appreciation Society International, Inc.'s mission is to promote chili and raise money for charity. We are involved in over 500 chili cookoffs per year and raise over $1,000,000.00 annually for local charities.In addition to raising funds for charitable organizations in the United States and participating foreign countries, we seek to educate the public about the historic and cultural significance of chili - an indigenous American tradition. We are working for the adoption of chili as the National Food of the United States.Annually, the Chili Appreciation Society International sanctions over 500 cookoffs that raises over $1,000,000.00 for charity. Corporate CASI, which has the function of sanctioning all of these cookoffs, doing the necessary work to tabulate cookoff results, and putting on the annual Terlingua International Chili Championship, has an annual income of approximately $250,000.00. Out of this annual income, not only were we able to cover all of the associated costs and expenses of the TICC, but we were able to contribute close to $60,000.00 to charity. Keep in mind that CASI is a 501(c)(3) corporation, which means that we have no compensated officers or employees. This allows us to channel all of our excess profits to charity. Join with us on our mission to raise money for charity through the promotion of chili. Enjoy with us the satisfaction we experience in doing what we do. Together we can and will make a difference with chili, and we invite you to be a part of this unforgettable experience.
Each year on the first Saturday of November CASI holds the ultimate celebration of Chili. This grandaddy of all chili cookoffs is held at Rancho CASI de los Chisos in Terlingua, Texas. Rancho CASI is located on the North side of Highway 170, eleven miles West of Study Butte and 7 miles East of Lajitas.
The four day celebration begins each year on Wednesday before the big weekend, and culminates on Saturday with the Terlingua International Chili Championship©. It's a Texas tradition of epic proportion - complete with an annual proclamation from the Governor declaring "Chili Appreciation Society International Day" in Texas!
Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the celebration, the unique vendors, the rugged terrain surrounding the ranch, and ...of course ...the Chili! The grounds officially open on the Wednesday before the first Saturday in November, and the gate admission, per person, for the entire event is $25.00. The gate admission for the first Saturday in November only, is $10.00 per person. The first Saturday in November is the actual day of the TICC International Chili Championship Cookoff. The nightly stage entertainment starts on Thursday night and continues through Saturday night.
