Round Top Library Chili Cook-Off Draws Big Crowd & Even Bigger Generosity

Under brilliant blue skies and perfect mid-50s winter weather, Round Top Family Library (RTFL) hosted a Chili Cook-Off for the books on Saturday, Jan. 17, welcoming a record-breaking number of teams and guests for a day filled with food, music, community, and generosity.

The annual fundraiser took over the historic Round Top Rifle Hall and its surrounding grounds, where 36 cooking teams—more than ever before—set up their chili stations. The beautiful weather was a gift to both cooks and guests, allowing teams to spread out outdoors while maintaining easy access to the warmth and seating inside the hall. For those cooking chili over open fires, the conditions were nothing short of perfect.

Attendance was equally impressive, with organizers estimating close to 1,000 people throughout the day. Friends gathered for a festive day out, families arrived with babies and toddlers in tow, and even a few four-legged friends joined in the fun. True to the spirit of Round Top Family Library, all were welcome.

This year’s theme, “Freedom Never Tasted So Good,” honored the upcoming 250th birthday of our nation, and guests embraced the patriotic spirit wholeheartedly. Attendees arrived dressed in red, white, and blue, while many chili booths echoed the theme with festive décor, American flags, Mardi Gras-style beads, and creative touches that added to the celebratory atmosphere.

The chili itself was as diverse as the crowd. Traditional red, spicy Texas chili competed alongside inventive recipes, including a vegetarian chili recipe. With 36 teams competing, guests were treated to an overwhelming—and delicious— variety of flavors.

For the first time, RTFL invited community members to serve as Chairs of the Chili Cook-Off, and the role was joyfully embraced by Kaci and Sterling VanCoutren, owners of The Glamp Inn and one of Round Top’s most beloved couples. Their energy, creativity, and enthusiasm were felt throughout the entire day. Adding to the celebration, the event just happened to fall on Kaci’s birthday, making it an especially memorable occasion for her—and for the community who celebrated right alongside her. For many years, Board Member Suzanne Ellis has faithfully chaired this beloved event, for which we are all deeply appreciative, and this year she worked beautifully with Kaci and Sterling to pass the torch.

Kaci and Sterling were supported by an outstanding committee of dedicated leaders and dozens of hardworking volunteers who helped bring this event to life. The Chili Cook-Off Committee Leads included Pam Langford, Board Member and RTFL Fundraiser Chair; Shirley Hernandez Ross, Board Member overseeing Sponsorships, Live Auction Donations, and Judging; Karen Radabough, Head of Ticket Sales; and Kathy Young, Board Member responsible for Public Relations and Marketing. Amy Bone, RTFL Board Member, also played an active role in planning the Cook-Off. On the day of the event, nearly 40 community members stepped up to serve in a wide range of volunteer roles, helping ensure the Cook-Off ran smoothly from start to finish.

Live music set the tone early, with Fayette County’s favorite band Black Cat Choir kicking off the festivities. The band generously donated their performance to support RTFL and delivered a rock-and-roll set that kept the crowd moving. While they performed on the indoor stage at the Rifle Hall, Black Cat Choir brought concert-quality speakers that allowed their music to echo across the entire property, turning the grounds into a fullscale party.

Guests purchased a $12 ticket and received a bowl and spoon—essential tools for the ambitious task of sampling as many chilis as possible. Thanks to the generosity of H-E-B and Andrea Riebeling, attendees also enjoyed an oldfashioned hot dog stand, providing the perfect base for chili toppings. While guests mingled, tasted, and danced, an all-star judging panel worked behind the scenes in a closely guarded, “top secret” judging area. Led by RTFL Board Member Shirley Hernandez Ross, judges followed a detailed scoring criteria and took their task very seriously.

One judge later joked that he arrived prepared, with Tums tucked into his pocket for the marathon of chili tasting ahead.

This year introduced a new milestone for the competition: cash prizes for first-place winners in both the Traditional and Open Divisions, raising the stakes and excitement for competitors.

Before settling into tables inside the Rifle Hall, guests had multiple opportunities to support the library, including a book sale, the new Envelope Wall, and a tempting Sweets Table. At 2:15 p.m., the energy soared as Heather Schoenst Kaspar of Buck-Up Auctions took the stage with her team of spotters to launch a fast-paced live auction featuring nine packages generously donated by community members.

The last auction item—a private, three-hour concert by Black Cat Choir for up to 50 guests, quickly created a bidding frenzy. In a moment that electrified the room, the band offered the package not once, not twice, but three times, resulting in nearly $11,000 raised from that item alone. The crowd erupted in cheers.

Joining Heather on the microphone was Jay Robinson, who served as Master of Ceremonies, keeping the program lively and moving. RTFL’s new Executive Director, Katey Crowley, also took the stage to introduce herself and welcome the community.

Adding to the excitement, filmmakers Erik and Laurie McCowan were on site capturing footage for their upcoming PBS series, The Texas Dance Hall Show. The Round Top Rifle Hall and the Chili Cook-Off will be featured in a future episode, and RTFL hopes to host a First Screening of the segment later this fall.

The long-anticipated awards ceremony brought cheers—and a few tears. In the Open Division, Round Top State Bank, led by Lyndsey Vasek, took first place and the $500 prize. In a touching moment, they immediately donated the prize money back to the library, moving the crowd to applause. Second place went to Loyd Vancil and the Sons of the American Legion, the team that won first place in this division last year. Third place was awarded to Red Hot Hodde Chili Peppers, led by Randy Hodde. Sons of the American Legion team led by Loyd Vancil claimed first place in the Traditional Division, winning $1,000, which they also promptly donated back to RTFL. It was their second win of the day. Second place went to Beck’s HVAC, led by Robert Beck, with third place awarded to Best Overall Chili, captained by Ben Schatte and winners of First Place honors in this division two years ago.

For the third year in a row, the People’s Choice Award went to Team Masonjay, captained by Marcos Hernandez. Best in Show honors—also for the third consecutive year—were claimed by The Round Top Road Chili Co, led by Ginna Klein. Their winning booth featured a nostalgic baseball theme, complete with Klein family memorabilia and antique baseball items that delighted guests. A spirited showdown between the Juniors and Seniors of Round Top-Carmine High School ended with bragging rights going to the Seniors, Class of 2026. Organizers shared exciting news: they expect once all the final counts have been tallied, the Chili Cook-Off will net over $50,000 for Round Top Family Library, providing approximately 10% of their annual operating budget. As a library that is 99.99% privately funded, RTFL relies heavily on events like the Chili Cook-Off and its other big fundraiser, the annual September gala, which together account for approximately 66% of its operating revenue. These funds ensure the library can continue offering its exceptional programs— completely free and accessible to all.

“We are overwhelmed with gratitude,” shared Pam Langford, Board Member and Chair of the Fundraising Committee. “This incredible turnout and generosity are a testament to the love this community has for Round Top Family Library.”