Where can you get one serving of chili for 22 cents and sample 45 different kinds at the same time?

Where can you help as many as 22 nonprofit organizations for a contribution of $10?

Where can you see virtually everybody you've ever known in the energy business?

There is one correct answer, and it's the 17th annual API Chili Cookoff, billed as Casper's largest tailgate party - Chili Bowl XVII - from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Casper Events Center. Tickets are $10 each, available in advance or at the door at the Casper Events Center box office.

There are 45 companies cooking chili this year, up from 44 a year ago. Each company pays a $50 entry fee to participate and spends much more than that on booth decorations, groceries and a Friday evening calcutta among contestants.

"Along the way, we' ve had some drop out and others have come in to take their spots," said Bob Dill of Automation & Electronics. "We are not expecting to raise as much money this year because of the economy, but Casper is a giving community, so we'll see how it goes Saturday."

Last year, 3,062 people attended the event, which raised $102,259 for 24 charities.

Nonprofit groups must ask for the funds, and when able, must work at the event itself. Money is distributed to qualifying groups after the event, when organizers know how much they have to give.

"We fund those who continue to request funding or those who continue to help out. We are not accepting new applications because we want to be sure we can continue to fund those we have been funding," Dill said.

Among those who receive funds are Natrona County School District students who are homeless, no matter the circumstance.

"I currently have over 200 students in the program," said NCSD homeless liaison Greta Hinderliter. "My numbers are up and there are honestly almost daily needs for these kids, whether it be a tank of gas to get them to school or long pants if they are from a warm climate."

Hinderliter said "100 percent" of the funds she relies on for any needs other than strictly school supplies come from the generosity of the community and events such as the chili cookoff.

In keeping with the tailgate theme, Saturday will also be the first opportunity many in Casper will have to meet four of the new Wyoming Cowboy assistant football coaches. Mike Fanoga, linebackers; Jerry Montgomery, defensive line; Jim Harding, tight ends and Pete Kaligis, offensive line, are all expected to be in attendance.

Besides eating chili, drinking beverages of choice and visiting, attendees may also try their luck at raffle prizes.

Cash prizes totaling $15,000, including a $10,000 grand prize, will be raffled with tickets $20 each, available at the event.

Another raffle features a Special Edition Marlin 1895 45-70 caliber rifle with tickets $5 each.

Prizes will be awarded near the conclusion of the event and winners do not need to be present at the drawing to be eligible for the raffle prizes.

Reach community news editor Sally Ann Shurmur at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com. Read Sal's blog at trib.com/blog

Who you help

Last year's Chili Cookoff proceeds helped the following groups:

All Purpose Canines, American Red Cross, ARC of Natrona County, Boys & Girls Club of Central Wyoming, Brain Injury Association, CAP (Children's Advocacy Project), Casper Humane Society, Central Wyoming Hospice, Central Wyoming Spay & Neuter Foundation, Conner Englet, Habitat for Humanity, Jason's Friends, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels, NCSD Homeless Student Fund, Renewed Hope Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Safe Kids of Central Wyoming, Seton House, Special Olympics Wyoming, Wyoming Housing Network, Youth Empowerment Council.

Who's Cooking

Forty-five teams will cook red or green chili this year. Teams include:

All Property Brokers, Budweiser-Casper Beverage, Cameron, Compression Leasing, Cost Plus Appliance & Design Center, Crescent Drilling, Double D Welding & Fabrication, Edgeworth Realty/Martensen, EEI/Cameron, Exterran, Falcon Pump, First Interstate Bank, FMC Technologies, Greiner Ford Lincoln Mercury, Halliburton, Hilltop National Bank, Homax Oil Sales, Hunting Energy Services, Industrial Screen & Maintenance, J.W. Williams, Kathy Osborne/Trademark, Key Energy, Kinder Morgan, MI SWACO, MARMC Transportation, McKendree Trucking/NATCO, Nabors Drilling USA, National Oilwell/Varco Dst., NOV-Gammaloy, Patterson UTI Drilling, Rocky Mountain Oilfield Warehouse, Schlumberger, SST Energy Corp., Stewart & Stevenson, Strata Directional Technology, The Directional Drilling Company (DDC), Toolpushers Supply Co., Turntec Manufacturing, Unit Drilling, Warrior Energy Services, Wenzel Downhole, Wilson Supply, Wood Group ESP, Wyoming Machinery Co., and XL Hardbanding & Fabrication.

Last year's Chili Cookoff proceeds helped the following groups:

All Purpose Canines, American Red Cross, ARC of Natrona County, Boys & Girls Club of Central Wyoming, Brain Injury Association, CAP (Children's Advocacy Project), Casper Humane Society, Central Wyoming Hospice, Central Wyoming Spay & Neuter Foundation, Conner Englet, Habitat for Humanity, Jason's Friends, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels, NCSD Homeless Student Fund, Renewed Hope Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Safe Kids of Central Wyoming, Seton House, Special Olympics Wyoming, Wyoming Housing Network, Youth Empowerment Council.]]->

Forty-five teams will cook red or green chili this year. Teams include:

All Property Brokers, Budweiser-Casper Beverage, Cameron, Compression Leasing, Cost Plus Appliance & Design Center, Crescent Drilling, Double D Welding & Fabrication, Edgeworth Realty/Martensen, EEI/Cameron, Exterran, Falcon Pump, First Interstate Bank, FMC Technologies, Greiner Ford Lincoln Mercury, Halliburton, Hilltop National Bank, Homax Oil Sales, Hunting Energy Services, Industrial Screen & Maintenance, J.W. Williams, Kathy Osborne/Trademark, Key Energy, Kinder Morgan, MI SWACO, MARMC Transportation, McKendree Trucking/NATCO, Nabors Drilling USA, National Oilwell/Varco Dst., NOV-Gammaloy, Patterson UTI Drilling, Rocky Mountain Oilfield Warehouse, Schlumberger, SST Energy Corp., Stewart & Stevenson, Strata Directional Technology, The Directional Drilling Company (DDC), Toolpushers Supply Co., Turntec Manufacturing, Unit Drilling, Warrior Energy Services, Wenzel Downhole, Wilson Supply, Wood Group ESP, Wyoming Machinery Co., and XL Hardbanding & Fabrication.]]->