MONROE — The area’s Best Burger contest for 2024 has been beefed up with six new restaurants joining the competition for 2024.
Now in its 10th year, the contest, sponsored by Green County Beef Producers, has 20 restaurants in the field — and that is a lot of burgers. The contest runs from May 1 through July 31.
“We’ve had a lot of interest over the years, and it seems like it just keeps growing every year,” said Nellie McDermott, chair of the Green County Beef Producers group.
Indeed, more than 2,000 of the contest burgers were purchased over the course of the 2023 contest year, according to organizers. What’s more, last year 150 hungry customers had tried at least 15 of the burgers, which qualified them for the grand prizes. Those customers were asked to rank the burgers from 1 to 10 on their ballots and write a word or two of comments about each burger.
Those prizes — offered again this year — include a new, Weber grill and $400 beef bundles; and a pair of $50 beef bundles.
The top prize — Best Burger 2023 — went to Ott Haus in New Glarus. Their burger was made with a fresh beef patty topped with homemade bourbon bacon jam and Swiss cheese.
The new entrants for 2024 include:
● Old Grizzly, Browntown
● Holler Inn, Browntown
● Jailhouse Tap, Monroe
● Vince’s Pizza, Monroe
● Cactus Co. Booze and Bites, Monroe
● The Fat Burger Pub, Monroe.
Descriptions of the types of burgers offered by each of the 20 stops will be posted soon on the Beef Producers’ website and entry forms to vote on each one will appear on that site and the group’s Facebook page, said McDermott. Entry forms also are available at each of the participating restaurants.
McDermott said not every participating restaurant uses 100%, local, Green County beef but the practice is “strongly encouraged” by contest organizers.
“We definitely want to see them using local beef, that’s a big part of why we are having the contest,” she said.
Winners will be announced at the Green County Beef Producers’ annual steak fry in late summer at the County Fairgrounds.