At the Jax Area USO Chili Cook Off, a Chili Appreciation Society International–sanctioned event, cooks compete to attend the International Chili Cook Off in November in Terlingua, Texas. Competitors come from around the country—and even Canada—to challenge each others' chili-cooking prowess and see who can breathe the biggest flames.

Attendees can grab a tasting kit, which allows them to sample as many of the chilis as they can until the chili runs out. They also can vote for their favorite chili in the People's Choice Award competition, though panels of judges determine who goes on to the Terlingua cookoff. The judges also adjudicate showmanship and traditional and non-traditional salsas, which attendees can sample for free.