For the tenth consecutive year, Tuscaloosa Exchange Club will host a fundraising event known as the Annual Great Chili Cookoff.

Founded in 1923, the Tuscaloosa Exchange Club meets weekly to exchange ideas and support service projects such as child abuse prevention, community services and local law enforcement.

“I wasn’t in the exchange club when they started doing it, but they decided they wanted to have a fundraiser. One of the members proposed doing a chili cook-off because nobody was doing a chili cook-off in Tuscaloosa, at least not on a grand scale,” said Glen Smith, Tuscaloosa Exchange Club’s treasurer.

For the past ten years, the Annual Great Chili Cookoff has seen local businesses as well as residents of Tuscaloosa walk through the halls of Bryant Conference Center to present their spin on the meal. In the past, teams have experimented with their chili, adding spices, a multitude of beans and even different types of meat to change up the flavor.

“One year, somebody had wild boar. It did well; I think it came in second. There was a team last year that had elk and venison as well as other things,” said Smith.

While teams have tried to change things up with their recipes, it isn’t always a success. Evans Fitts, a judge for the event, said that in the past, several teams didn’t quite have the formula down.

“Sometimes people don’t stir their pot, and it burns and you can really taste that burnt flavor, which isn’t good. In the early years, there were some pretty bad chilis, but every year it’s gotten better and better. I think people have learned how to make mass quantities of chili,” said Fitts.

Each chili is graded within multiple categories: taste, spiciness, consistency, flavor, odor and more. Along with grading the chili, participants are also graded on the quality of their booths, with several teams adopting a theme for both their chili and outfits.

“Quite often, the team will have a good chili and a good outfit too. A lot of people do win multiple awards,” said Fitts. “One year, one of the banks did an ‘I Love Lucy’ theme, and that was really well done… there’s always something about ’radioactive’ chili with people dressed up in hazmat suits… there are a lot of imaginative people out there. It’s fun just to walk around and see what people have come up with.”

At the conclusion of the event, awards are distributed to those with the best chili, the best theme and a “People’s Choice” winner will be given prizes. First place winners will receive a trophy and a $500 prize. Attendees will also have a chance at winning prizes, as each ticket sold is entered into a raffle to win prizes donated by the Exchange Club and local businesses.

Tickets are currently on sale on the Exchange Club’s website, but can also be purchased at the door for $10. Ticket proceeds go towards funding local foundations, such as the Police Athletic Club and others.

The Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff will be hosted at the Bryant Conference Center on Saturday, February 13th from 11-2pm. Students can find more information on the Tuscaloosa Exchange Club and The 10th Annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff at tuscexchange.wordpress.com.