AMES, IOWA – Iowa’s cattle producers are asking their fellow Iowans to help find Iowa’s Best Burger in 2016. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style.  This is the seventh year the two groups are holding the annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest, which officially kicks off February 15. All nominations must be in the IBIC office by 5 p.m. on March 9, 2016.

Katie Olthoff, Director of Communications for the ICA, says “We are in search of Iowa’s Best Burger. To qualify to be named Iowa’s Best Burger, the burger must be a 100% beef burger and served on a bun or bread product.” In order to recognize these great burgers, IBIC and ICA are asking Iowa consumers to nominate their favorite burgers for the award, and those nominations can be made by mail, text, or online.

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 nomination period ends March 9, 2016. The top 10 restaurants with the most votes are eligible for the title of Iowa’s Best Burger. The top ten finalists will be announced in March 15th. Finalists will receive a certificate and will be eligible for the secret taste-test of contest judges. The 2016 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced on May 2 and will kick-off May Beef Month.

In 2015, more than 4,000 nominations for 286 restaurants were received in the contest. The final winners in previous years are: 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.