Plan chili cook-offs according to regional seasons.
Whether you favor a barn-burning hot chili or a mild white chicken chili, chili cook-offs are fun community events that raise funds and encourage camaraderie. A favorite fundraiser for schools, civic organizations, churches and nonprofit organizations, a chili cook-off should reflect the interests of your local community. If you live in an area famous for hog farms, make a "pork chili" category. A Florida chili cook-off may feature a category that includes Cuban or tropical ingredients. For chili cook-offs in Milwaukee, create a "brewer's best" category. No matter what the local flavor, encourage entrants to get creative. Just don't forget to provide plenty of antacids.
Instructions
Planning a Successful Chili Cook-Off
1. Schedule the event carefully. Consult community calendars to check for school events, civic events, religious festivals and athletic competitions. Take the season into consideration. It's best to avoid planning a chili cook-off around busy holidays unless the chili cook-off is scheduled to be part of the festivities, such as a 4th of July chili cook-off. Remember to take into account cultural events as well, including major televised sporting events.
2. Estimate the number of volunteers needed and recruit an ample number of people to help with a money table, set-up, serving, judging, music or emceeing, photography and clean-up. Ask volunteers who are unavailable on the day of the chili cook-off to assist with preparatory tasks like advertising. Plan what, if any, compensation volunteers will receive. Compensation could, for example, be a free meal pass to the event.
3. Advertise the chili cook-off to your target audience, whether it is an entire community, an academic community, or a congregation. Begin occasional advertising at least four to six weeks in advance, increasing the frequency and medium of advertising as the chili cook-off date draws near. Remember to include advertising mediums like fliers, newspaper ads and mailers. Spread your message via radio stations, TV channels, websites, e-mails, text message blasts, and social networking venues like Twitter and Facebook.
4. Communicate the essential information about the chili cook-off clearly. Include time, place, entry fees or meal ticket prices, chili judging categories, prizes, the identity of the event sponsor and the cause the proceeds will support. Also include inclement weather plans, if relevant.
Implementing a Successful Chili Cook-Off
5. Equip the facilities with adequate tables, chairs, lighting and sound equipment. Don't forget extra items like extension cords and hot pads. Dining supplies should include serving spoons, bowls, plates, spoons and napkins. Provide condiments and garnishes unless it is specified that participants provide their own. Designate a volunteer to serve as a last-minute emergency person available to run errands or procure forgotten supplies.
6. Decorate the facility after ensuring that all basic equipment is ready. Follow a theme, or decorate in bright, classic southwestern colors like red, yellow and green. Hang streamers, use colored table cloths, or feature pinatas for children's entertainment.
7. Provide judges with clipboards and writing implements tasting instructions for your chosen categories, whether they be "most unusual recipe," "hottest chili," "best in show" or "best chicken chili." Include in the tasting instructions considerations like taste, appearance and texture.
8. Award prizes for all of your chosen categories to the chili cook-off winners. Prizes might include gift certificates or a chili pepper trophy. Make sure a volunteer photographer has the opportunity to take pictures of the winners with the judges.
Publish the results -- along with pictures -- in your organizational newsletter, on your website, or in your local newspaper.
9. Offer to donate any leftovers to local soup kitchens or homeless shelters. You could also donate leftovers to local firehouses or police departments.
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