photo: Joe Cromer came to Clarksville from New Orleans to sample one of chef Larry Wright’s selections at a previous Show-Me Missouri State Chili Cook-off

A change at the Clarksville chili cook-off promises to be tasty and financially lucrative. The event is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 9th at Clarksville's Riverfront Park.

For the first time, chefs can compete in the “homestyle” category. It’s almost the same as the old “anything goes” class with one huge difference. The owner of the winning recipe advances to the World Championship Chili Cook-off in September at Gateway Motorsports Park outside St. Louis. The addition already is creating a buzz. The cook-off usually attracts around 25 chefs, but organizer Linda Blakey predicts there could be more this year.

Culinary artists who want to compete must sign up and pay a $10 registration on the International Chili Society’s website at www.chilicookoff.com. Cooks may put just about anything into their homestyle offerings, but all must include beans. The traditional categories of red and green chili and salsa will be back.

Hundreds of hungry chili enthusiasts are expected. Admission is $3 per person and chili samples are 50 cents each. Proceeds will benefit the Raintree Arts Council, which sponsors programs in Pike and Lincoln counties. The group is a little more than 80 percent completed with a fund drive to raise $27,000 to pay for a new roof at the Apple Shed Theatre in Clarksville.

More information is available by logging onto www.raintreeartscouncil.org.