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CHILIFEST: FUN FOR A CAUSE By REBECCA WATTS

Starlight Ballroom in Snook each spring where fifteen acres of pastureland are transformed into a two-day concert and chili cook-off. Last year’s headliners Willie Nelson, Jack Ingram, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Pat Green and Aaron Watson brought a record number of over 40,000 fans to the event. Pat Green and Aaron Watson will return for Chilifest 2008, and fellow veterans Gary Allen and the Randy Rogers Band and newcomer Stoney LaRue will round out the venue. However, the stars cannot overshadow Chilifest’s main purpose -- to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

In the seventeen years since Chilifest began, the group has raised over $1 million in charity donations. The Special Olympics, Hospice of the Brazos Valley, CarPool, Burleson County Go-Texan Association, Snook Volunteer Fire Department, College Station Morning Lions Club, the Boys & Girls Club, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are only a few of the organizations that have received Chilifest contributions. Travis Britt, Chilifest 2008 Chairman, said the contributions make all the hard work involved in organizing the event worth it.

“Last year we were able to go to the Boys & Girls Club Banquet to present a check,” said Britt. “There are so many times we don’t get to see where all of our donations go. We were all so impressed and it was nice to be able to listen to their stories.” Britt said the list of donor recipients varies each year but that Chilifest Inc. likes to keep donations in the Brazos Valley. The Burleson County Go-Texan Association receives a donation each year because of the help they offer in organizing Chilifest. “They’ve helped us for years,” Britt said. “They helped us a lot when we moved to Snook and help do things we can’t do, like get people and space.”

Chilifest began as a philanthropic experiment by Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 1991. The first Chilifest was a day event held in a Wal-Mart parking lot with 15 to 20 chili teams competing. As attendance numbers grew and more chili teams entered the competition, organizers sought a better way to accommodate growth. To meet the needs of managing and organizing the event, Chilifest became a non-profit corporation in 1999 and began to search for a location that would grow with their success. Located four miles outside of Snook on FM 3058, the Starlight Ballroom fit their needs and the pavilion’s surrounding acreage has allowed Chilifest to double attendance numbers since their first year there in 2000. Chilifest originally used the existing pavilion and stage, but now set up their own large stage for performers and use the surrounding acreage for chili team sites and the crowds.

Preparation for the event begins months in advance. Five to seven Texas A&M students willing to volunteer their time form the Chilifest Inc. committee. “We’ve found it is easier if we’re small. You get too many people and there are too many ideas around and it’s harder to agree on things,” Britt said. The committee takes about a month off after the event before beginning the process of selecting charity organizations and distributing donations. This year’s committee consists of six chairmen. They, along with hundreds of volunteers, make Chilifest happen. Co-owner of Twinz Co. Graphic Design Lina Lawson said, “This is a group of 18 to 23 year olds; I’m completely impressed that they are able to pull something off like this.”

In the past, high numbers of alcohol-related offenses created by growing crowds and the misperception that underage drinking was tolerated created a negative view of the event. In order to fight dropping attendance levels, Chilifest Inc., along with Twinz Co. Graphic Design, examined and employed ways of making the event safer and within six months began to change public opinion. Lawson said, “The perception of who they are versus why they do it is night and day. It’s not a fraternity that throws the party. This is a corporation that raises funds to give back to the organizations they are involved in.”

In 2005, the organization began offering a park-and-ride service from the Hall of Fame in Bryan and increased event security. Britt said about 200 law enforcement officers patrol the area, and alcohol-related offenses have steadily dropped. There were 74 alcohol and marijuana-related offenses at Chilifest 2007, 15 fewer than Chilifest 2006. Even fewer are expected this year. Chilifest Inc. also offers a $5 Chilifest merchandise voucher as an incentive to use to the park-and-ride service. Britt said, “When you come to Chilifest, no one’s there to cause trouble. If they aren’t 21, they aren’t drinking. It’s fun no matter what. People stay all night and play all day.”

Organizers expect a sold-out crowd this year. Wings N’ More and Global Security, which also provides stage security for the event, will sell food. Lampo’s will provide water and soda, and the Caldwell VFW will sell Miller Lite and Red Bull. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate. Advanced tickets are on sale at Catalena Hatters, Callaway Villas, CC Creations, Aggieland Outfitters, Inspirations, Loupot’s Bookstores, and Raising Cane’s or online at www.chilifest.org. The park-and-ride shuttle will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 4, until two hours after the last performer.

Chilifest 2008 is Britt’s last year to be involved with Chilifest Inc., and after three years on the committee he is sad about leaving the organization. “It takes a long time to get this together,” Britt said, “and time has flown by for me. It’s so much fun and I’ve met a lot of people I would never have had the chance to meet before. Yeah, I’m sad about leaving, but right now, all I can think about is Chilifest.” Britt has asked the public for their cooperation in one thing -- weather. “Please, just cross your fingers for good weather. That’s the only thing that’s out of my control, the weather.”