50th CASI Terlingua Chili Championship

322 chili cooks competed for the 50th Terlingua International Chili Championship at Rancho CASI de los Chisos!

Each trophy has a 50th commemorative pin on it and generous sponsors provide lots of prizes for all the winners!

There's a lot of fog, clouds, and rain on the way to the Study Butte-Terlingua area.

Band and Dance Students from Big Bend High School perform on Scholarship Day!

On Friday, first time Terlingua chili cooks and show teams toast their chili 'virginity'!

Here comes the sun for the 'Big Event', the Terlingua International Chili Championship!

Patti and the Gypsy Chili Chicks Win 3rd Place Small Show!

The Chili Dog Show Team Wins First Place Small Show!

Beverly Maricle from Seguin takes 2nd Place in One Person Showmanship!

The Voo-Doo Chili Show Team takes First Place in Large Show!

The Chili Song (one of many!)!

It takes a lot of judges to go through 322 chili entries. There were several levels of
judging to narrow it down to the top 24 chilis.

Boomer congratulates the 2nd Place-Reserve Grand Champion, T. J. Cannon!

Lisa Stone of Kempner,Texas is the 50th Terlingua International Chili Champion!

Dana Plocheck, Kent Cavender & Ralph Hay are relaxing after a long morning of cooking chili!
Boomer has served as the Terlingua Master of Ceremonies for 24 years. He would like to say THANKS to all his wonderful chili friends and family, the CASI Board of Directors over the years, and a special "THANKS" to Ralph Hay for recommending him to CASI President Robert Bell 24 years ago.

Boomer received the CASI "Lifetime Achievement" Award for his service at many
cookoffs over the past 26 years. He is retiring from cookoff announcing, but will still be involved with local cookoffs and CASI!

Congratulations to all the Chili, Show, Wings, Beans, Salsa, and Tequila Rose Dessert Winners! It was an outstanding cookoff and THANKS to all the volunteers who made the CASI Terlingua International Chili Championship so successful!