AMES, Iowa — There is still time to nominate your favorite burger for this year’s Iowa’s Best Burger Contest. The annual contest sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) is looking to award this title to the best burger in the state.
“Our goal is to surpass last year’s total of 6,262 nominations,” says Brooke German, Director of Marketing for the IBIC. “We are on track to reach this goal but time is running out to nominate your favorite burger.”
Nominations are being accepted three ways; online voting at iabeef.org; text BEEF to 313131, or paper nomination form to be mailed to the IBIC office.
The nomination period closes at 5:00 p.m. on March 13. IBIC and ICA are accepting votes by mail, text or online voting. Details about the contest, rules, and nomination forms are available on the Iowa Beef Industry Council’s website, www.iabeef.org. Burger lovers can also find a link to the online nomination form at the Iowa Beef Council Facebook page; or by texting BEEF to 313131. Photos of your favorite burger can be shared socially using #IABestBurger.
The quest to find Iowa’s best burger began on February 13. To qualify for the title, burgers must be a 100% beef patty, served on a bun or bread products and be cooked to 160° F doneness.
The 10 restaurants with the most votes will be named on March 20. In addition to receiving the title of one of the Top 10 best burgers in the state, these finalists qualify for the title of Iowa’s Best Burger. A secret panel of judges will visit each of these restaurants to taste and judge their burger to help us determine the winner.
“This contest is a great way to celebrate beef and the 27,000 beef producers in Iowa,” said Katie Olthoff, Director of Communications for ICA. “Our cattlemen and women raise a great tasting product that all Iowans can be proud of.”
In 2016, more than 6,200 nominations for 311 restaurants were received in the contest. The final winners in previous years are: 2016 – The Chuckwagon Restaurant, Adair; 2015 – The Cider House, Fairfield; 2014 – Brick City Grill, Ames; 2013 – 61 Chop House Grille, Mediapolis; 2012 – Coon Bowl III, Coon Rapids; 2011 – Rusty Duck, Dexter; 2010 – Sac County Cattle Company, Sac City.
— Iowa Beef Industry Council
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