MANCHESTER, MI — Chili lovers should get their spoons ready for an upcoming cook-off with a twist.
SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary, at 17901 Mahrle Rd., will be hosting a vegan chili cook-off from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Those who attend can expect to taste a variety of vegan chilis and also get a chance to tour the sanctuary’s 80 acres filled with over 200 rescued farm animals like cows, pigs, chickens, goats and more. There will be a bonfire later in the night.
“We don’t just want (this event) to cater towards vegetarians and vegans,” Brece Clark, assistant farm manager at SASHA, said. “We want people who aren’t vegetarians or vegans to be able to see how amazing the food can taste and … make those emotional connections … to hopefully inspire change.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased online and will cost $35 per adult and $10 for children 5 to 10 years old. Children under 5 years old can attend for free.
SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary is a non-profit with a mission to rescue abused, neglected and abandoned farm animals while teaching the public its mission.
“Our mission is to just give (these animals) the best life possible, and help to educate the public on why they have inherent value, how they’re all individuals (and to) hopefully shift the perspective on these animals,” Clark said.
Shara Jones, animal care manager and assistant executive director of SASHA, said SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary is not like a petting zoo, but, instead, is a way for people to have an up close and personal experience meeting different animals. She said these interactions allow people to create lasting connections.
The point of the even isn’t to make people vegan, Clark said, instead it is to have others learn more about what veganism can do and to learn more about farmed animals.
“The chili cook-off is hopefully going to be a great way to bring in more people who are like-minded and want to learn more about rescuing farmed animals (which is) something that you just rarely hear about or think that there’s a need for,” Clark said.
For more information about SASHA Farm Animal Sanctuary, visit its website or social media.
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