February 19, 2018

Iowa’s cattle producers are asking all Iowans to help find Iowa’s Best Burger in 2018. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style.
This is the ninth year the two groups are holding the annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest, which officially began Feb. 12. The nomination period will close at 5 p.m. March 12.
To qualify to be named Iowa’s Best Burger for 2018, the burger must be a 100% beef patty and served on a bun or bread product.
Contest helps promote beef
“We are excited to begin the search for this year’s best burger in Iowa,” says Katie Olthoff, director of communications for ICA. “This year, our goal is to get new restaurants involved in the contest. We know we have many restaurants across the state serving a great beef burger.”
To recognize great burgers, Iowans can nominate their favorite burger for the award. Those nominations can be made online or by text. Details about the contest, rules and the voting form are available on the IBIC’s website.
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.
“Restaurants can download a digital toolkit including promotional materials for the contest from IBIC’s website at iabeef.org. They can promote the contest to their customers,” says Brooke German, director of marketing for IBIC. “The promotional materials can be used in restaurants or online, such as their social media platforms.”
Nominations accepted until March 12
The nomination period ends March 12. German says the top 10 restaurants with the most votes are eligible for the title of Iowa’s Best Burger. The top 10 finalists will be announced March 19. Finalists will receive a certificate and be eligible for the secret taste-test by contest judges. The 2018 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced May 1 with the kickoff of May Beef Month in Iowa.
“Funded by the Iowa state beef checkoff, this contest not only promotes Iowa’s restaurants serving great beef burgers, but also Iowa’s beef farmers producing safe, wholesome and nutritious products for consumers,” says Steve Rehder, chairman of the IBIC. “It is a great partnership between the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council to promote Iowa’s beef industry, which generates an estimated $6.03 billion in economic activity each year in the state.”
Last year 500 restaurants receive votes
In 2017, nearly 9,200 nominations for 500 restaurants were received in the contest. The final winners in previous years are:
• 2017 — The Smokin’ Hereford BBQ, Storm Lake
• 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 Co., Sac City
Source: ICA and IBIC
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