AMES, Iowa -- The search is on again for Iowa's best burger.
"Any combination of condiments and spices can be on the burger, but we're going to be judging it based off of the patty itself--and it can be on any kind of bread product. We're looking for a 100-percent real beef patty," says Kylie Peterson with the Iowa Beef Industry Council.
She says votes can be cast on their website--iabeef.org--through March 13th, when ten finalists will be determined.
"Click on the Learn More button if you want to know more about the contest rules, and what makes the best burger in Iowa the best burger. You'll also see a black button that says Vote Now and that's where you're going to go to cast your vote," Peterson says.
After March 13th, anonymous judges will visit the restaurants, taste the finalist burgers, and name Iowa's Best Burger on May 1st.
She says the annual Iowa's Best Burger Contest checks a number of boxes.
"[It] gets consumers excited about going out and getting a burger, but also pushes people to small towns and rural communities in Iowa that have great tasting products that might not be well known to the rest of the state," Peterson says.
The Flying Elbow, in Marshalltown, won the 2022 Iowa's Best Burger Contest with it's "Real American" burger.