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 $30.00. 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.

In order to compete in the championship you must have qualified and received an invitation. This requires cooks to earn points by placing in CASI sanctioned Chili Cookoffs. A cook earns 4 points for first place, 3 points for second, 2 points for third, and a point for fourth through tenth place. The total number of points required for qualification ranges from 6 points to 12 points and depends on the cook's state of residence. More details about competing may be obtained from a CASI director or from any of the Pod Great Peppers.

CASI's 2011 Terlingua International Chili Championship Winners

Top Ten Chili Winners
1 Larry Walton, Robinson TX
2 Tom Dozier, Irving TX
3 Janie Burruss, San Marcos TX
4 Dave Trice, Hallsville TX
5 Doris Coats, Irving TX
6 Doug Seelig, Fredericksburg TX
7 Kevin Foley, Galveston TX
8 Molly Truitt, Friendswood TX
9 Melissa Pate, Houston TX
10 Diane Stimson, Crawford TX

Cooks who made the Final Table But did not end up finishing in the Top Ten.
11 Roger Foltz, Dallas TX
12 Shirley Sexton, Dallas TX
13 Kyle Bond, Kerrville TX
14 Nancy Draper, Katy TX
15 Mary Rodgers, La Luz NM
16 Ken Armand, Houston TX
17 Tricia Byrom, Kerrville TX
18 Honey Jones, Canyon Lake TX
19 Ron Baker, Ennis TX
20 Barbara Taylor, Terlingua TX
21 Bob Pulliam, Burleson TX
22 Maxine Reed, Houston TX
23 Tim LaLanne, Pipe Creek TX
24 Gene Everette, Odessa TX

Showmanship - Division I (Large Show Teams)
1 Rods & Wheels, Burleson TX

Showmanship - Division II (Small Show Teams)
1 Texas Chili Chicks, Burleson TX

Showmanship - Division III (One Person Show Teams)
1 Dream Catcher, Irving TX

Cooks & Showteams Qualified for CASI's 2012 Terlingua International Chili Championship

Chili Cooks Qualified
001 Larry Walton, Robinson TX
002 Tom Dozier, Irving TX
003 Janie Burruss, San Marcos TX
004 David (Dave) Trice, Hallsville TX
005 Doris Coats, Irving TX
006 Douglas "Bucky" Seelig, Fredericksburg TX
007 Kevin Foley, Galveston TX
008 Molly Truitt, Friendswood TX
009 Melissa Pate, Houston TX
010 Dianne Stimson, Crawford TX
011 Kathy Boone, Odessa TX
012 Rick Thomas, Alto NM
013 Mary L. Rogers, La Luz NM
014 Marion "Bud" Barrick, Organ NM
015 Barbara Herrin, Paint Rock TX
016 Candi Knight, Wellington FL
017 Kitty Dolan, Brooksville FL
018 Charles E. (Chuck) Dolan, Brooksville FL
019 Lorinda Crawford, Broken Arrow OK
020 Janet Keirsey, Tulsa OK
021 Catherine Seabolt, Bixby OK
022 Mike Mayenschein, Owasso OK
023 Josh Seabolt, Collinsville OK
024 John Moss, Glenpool OK
025 Karen Thomas, Alto NM
026 Arlindo Baptista, Petaluma CA
027 Christine Vestfals, Novato CA
028 Gina D'Arcangelo, Discovery Bay CA
029 Judy Russell, Shreveport LA
030 Larry Velasquez, Mission KS
031 Ethel Hewlett, Haysville KS
032 Virgil Johnson, Ottumwa IA
033 Reggie Graves, Shreveport LA
034 Steve Doss, Shreveport LA
035 Mike Rider, Richardson TX
036 David Manske, Arlington TX
037 Gerald Casey, Arlington TX
038 T.J. Cannon, Corinth TX
039 Rolland Pate, Houston TX
040 Lynn Hejtmancik, Buda TX
041 Ron Baker, Ennis TX
042 Deborah Vigare-Benefield, League City TX
043 Benny Hay, Burleson TX
044 Jason Goains, Meridian TX
045 Sue Yates, San Angelo TX
046 Grace Walton, Robinson TX
047 Dianne Lewis, Boerne TX
048 John Caffey, Rockdale TX

Show Teams Qualified
001 Rods & Wheels, Burleson TX - Pulliam, Bob
002 Texas Chili Chicks, Burleson TX - Short, Robin
003 Dream Catcher, Irving TX - Friedel, T. J.
004 Chili of Mass Consumption, Ruidoso Downs NM - Beaver, Charles D. "Charlie"
005 Miss Kitty's Fire Gal Chi, Brooksville FL - Dolan, Kitty
006 Rajun Cajun, Sarasota FL - Spicer, Stephen
007 Chili for Cancer, Collinsville OK - Seabolt, Courtney
8 Chili for Charity, Collinsville OK - Seabolt, Josh
009 Chili Justice League, Boerne TX - Lewis, Dianne
010 Witches of Elkwich 151, Stafford TX - Cavender, Kathryn
011 Big Daddy's Tuleberg Chil, Stockton CA - Ferrell, Roger
012 Colorado Connection, San Angelo TX - Miller, Janice
013 Persimmon Hillbillies, Olathe KS - Delay, Brad
014 Lagniappe 2, Shreveport LA - Nash, Janet
015 Cloverleaf #1, San Antonio TX - Cielencki, Janet
016 Chilisaurus, Camp Wood TX - Joplin, Mick
017 Tall Girl Frog, Rockdale TX - Caffey, Betty Sue
018 Flaming-O Chili, Ontario CA - Clark, Pamela G "Pam"
019 Pirate Chili, Houston TX - Garrett, Lewis
020 Dr. Dave's VooDoo Stew, Hallsville TX - Trice, David (Dave)
021 Bull Rush, Irving TX - Williams, Ginny
022 Texas Bull Chili, Spring TX - Thompson, John
023 Dos Caballeros, Katy TX - Gilpin, Vern
024 Buzzards Too, The, George West TX - Allen, Becky
025 Chili Republic, Houston TX - Armand, Susan
026 Blondies Rip Snortin Chil, Euless TX - Barnes, Tina
027 The Carnies, Kempner TX - Stone, Lisa
028 Me-Ma Chili, Crawford TX - Nelson, Mavis
029 Yellow Armadillo Chili, Amarillo TX - Cox, Matthew
030 Tall Boy, Rockdale TX - Caffey, John
031 Ruby Slippers, Kempner TX - Stone, Amanda