Devine, TX – The AYZ Foundation is bringing the heat to Devine City Park this summer with a brand-new event packed with hometown fun, friendly competition, and flavor: the Small Town Throw-Down & Chili Showdown, happening Saturday, June 14th at Devine City Park!
Local and visiting teams will compete for top honors in Chili, Beans, Salsa, and even Junior Chili categories, while other players battle it out in Cornhole, Washers, and Horseshoe Tournaments. Winners walk away with cash prizes, trophies, ribbons, and bragging rights.
This all-day festival is free to attend and promises something for everyone. It is a CASI-sanctioned chili cooking event. There will lots of fun for the kids too including a bounce house for the kids.
Live entertainment, family activities, vendors, a drawing, and food trucks will round out a packed day of community fun — but organizers say they need help to bring it all together.
“We’ve got a great vision and strong community momentum, but we need sponsors and volunteers to help make it a success,” said a spokesperson for the AYZ Foundation, a new non-profit organization based in Devine, TX. “From port-o-potties and cooling stations to tournament judges and parking help — every bit of support counts.”
Local businesses and individuals can sponsor items like:
• Cooling fans and shade tents
• Volunteer supplies like water and cooling towels
• Awards, raffle items, and activity costs
• Or even just donate their time or skills!
Volunteer roles include:
• Tournament helpers (cornhole, washers, horseshoes)
• Parking and crowd guides
• Judging assistants
• General event support
The AYZ Foundation is accepting vendor signups, chili cook-off registrations, and sponsorship pledges now. Interested community members can contact the foundation via Facebook or by emailing info@ayzfoundation.org Calls or text to 830–444–0010.
Come show your community spirit and help make this first-time event one Devine won’t forget!
Donna Alaniz, president of the AYZ Foundation, made a presentation on the event dubbed “Small Town Throw-Down & Chili Showdown” during the May 20 regular session of the Devine City Council.
“This event is not just a fundraiser but designed to bring participants in from surrounding towns, encouraging spending at local businesses and also to showcase the best of what Devine has to offer,” Alaniz said.
Aside from the various cook-off participants, the event will include food trucks, vendors and live music from across south Texas, she said. Also included in the event is a bounce house, face painting and tournaments involving corn hole, horse shoes and washer pitching.
Mayor Butch Cook gave his personal endorsement to the activities.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Cook said. “Anything that can bring other people to our town is just fabulous.”
The proposal was submitted to the council to obtain approval for beer service. Council members expressed some concern about the park being big enough for the events planned and providing adequate sanitation.
Alaniz said AYZ Foundation provides scholarships for local students seeking to further their education. She also said the foundation supports other local non-profits in an effort to “strengthen our community.”
“A lot of time you have different non-profits here in town like the Food Bank and Project Devine needing assistance from the back side,” Alaniz said. “Sometimes there are some financials that they are not obtaining because they are new to certain specific areas.”
Non-profit groups participating in the event will not be charged a vendor fee, she said.
Asked by Cook if the event is likely to become an annual affair, Alaniz said it was highly likely.