(UPDATED) A restaurant in Shelby County was named this year’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin in the state, as selected by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Richard Buman, co-owner of Victoria Station in Harlan, says he’s bowled over by the win.

Buman and his wife, Angela, purchased Victoria Station a year and a half ago. It’s a former railway depot where a restaurant has been in business since the late 1970s.

Richard and Angela Buman with their tenderloin. (IPPA photo.)

Buman said the past 19 months have been challenging with COVID-19 but he’s staying positive during the pandemic.

As for the award-winning tenderloin, he says they hand cut the meat and do the tenderizing there in the restaurant.

This is the 19th year for the contest, put on by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Last year’s winner was the Prairie Moon Restaurant in Prairieburg. Victoria Station will receive $500, a plaque and a banner to display for the honor. This year’s runner-up is also from Shelby County and a past contest winner.  Larsen’s Pub in Elk Horn, which holds the 2007 title, again earned high ratings from a panel of judges and will receive $250 and a plaque from IPPA.

There were 5,928 nominations received this year for 526 different eateries across Iowa.