PUEBLO, Colo. – To enhance the activities in the Professional Bull Rider’s Tyson Fan Zone & Marketplace during the 2014 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, the PBR has partnered with the International Chili Society (ICS) to bring the 48th Annual World’s Championship Chili Cookoff (WCCC) to Las Vegas, Nevada Oct. 24-26.
Approximately 400 chili cooks from across the country will converge on Las Vegas and showcase their skills in four categories: Traditional Red Chili, Chili Verde, Salsa and Homestyle Chili. For three days the Tyson Fan Zone & Marketplace, which is located at the MGM Resorts Village across the Strip from the Luxor Hotel, will be the place to watch the chefs’ culinary skills and sample some of the world’s best chili.
The ICS will invite approximately 350 judges to determine the 2014 World’s Champions. A total prize package of $55,000 will be awarded to the winners with $25,000 being presented to the winner of the Traditional Red Chili.
The WCCC, which is sanctioned by the ICS, is one of the largest food festival contests in the country and operates as a not-for-profit organization, raising $91 million since its inception in 1967. Each pre-qualifying chili cookoff sanctioned by the ICS must be held for a charity. The Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen and Make-A-Wish are a few of the charities who have received benefits from ICS events. Beneficiaries for this year’s WCCC will be the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada and Jaxson Kidd, the first recipient of the PBR’s Adopt A Child program.
In addition to watching the chefs create their masterpieces, the crowd will be entertained by the Miss Chili Pepper and Mister Hot Sauce contests, the Chili Eating competition, the Shoot N’ Holler contest and have the opportunity to vote for its favorite chili for the People’s Choice awards.
The WCCC is taking place in conjunction with the 21st PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals. The World Finals is the season finale for the Built Ford Tough Series, taking place at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center on Oct. 22-26. The PBR World Finals is the richest bull riding event in the sport, offering a total purse of $2.2 million, which includes a $1 million bonus for the 2014 PBR World Champion.
For more information about the 2014 PBR World Finals and schedules for World’s Championship Chili Cookoff, visit worldfinals.pbr.com or www.chilicookoff.com.
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