MONROE - So who has the best burger in town?
Local hamburger fans will get a chance to judge for themselves by taking part in the Green County Beef Producers' very first Best Burger in Monroe contest.
Judging will take place from May 1 to June 30 at each participating establishment, and the winner will be announced at the Green County Fair, July 16-20. Restaurants, grills and pubs have until March 15 to nominate a single burger from their menu for the contest.
Jim Cessna, vice president of GCBP, said burgers will be scored on criteria such as plate appearance, temperature, smell and, of course, taste. GCBP will visit all participating establishments as a committee to judge each burger that businesses select for the contest. Volunteer judges will be encouraged to pick up a judging card from any participant and can take the card to as many restaurants as they like.
"We wanted to make it available to the public," Cessna said. "If they go and order that burger, they can vote. And the more restaurants they go to, the more prizes they'll be eligible for at the end."
Prizes for judges will include a grill, meat bundles and a summer grilling basket, Cessna said.
GCBP is hoping for at least 10 contestants. As for judges, Cessna said the committee hopes that by allowing anyone to judge the burgers, the contest might someday take off like the popular burger contests offered in Nebraska and Iowa.
"If we get enough participants, hopefully it will be something we carry on from year to year," Cessna said.
Winner of the Best Burger in Monroe will receive a wall plaque, advertising and gifts. Participants can register at GreenCountyBeefProducers.wordpress.com, at GCBP's Facebook page or by calling Cessna at 608-214-8939, Becky Drafall at 608-328-4403 or Rena Koning at 608-325-9808.
A listing of all contestants and their entries will be posted throughout Monroe prior to May 1.
"It's a win-win for us promoting the product, and it's good for the businesses because they'll get some publicity for it," Cessna said. "All of our members are or have been beef producers in the county and believe in what we produce. It's a viable meat option that hopefully more people will purchase, especially during the upcoming summer months - the prime time for grilling."
Local hamburger fans will get a chance to judge for themselves by taking part in the Green County Beef Producers' very first Best Burger in Monroe contest.
Judging will take place from May 1 to June 30 at each participating establishment, and the winner will be announced at the Green County Fair, July 16-20. Restaurants, grills and pubs have until March 15 to nominate a single burger from their menu for the contest.
Jim Cessna, vice president of GCBP, said burgers will be scored on criteria such as plate appearance, temperature, smell and, of course, taste. GCBP will visit all participating establishments as a committee to judge each burger that businesses select for the contest. Volunteer judges will be encouraged to pick up a judging card from any participant and can take the card to as many restaurants as they like.
"We wanted to make it available to the public," Cessna said. "If they go and order that burger, they can vote. And the more restaurants they go to, the more prizes they'll be eligible for at the end."
Prizes for judges will include a grill, meat bundles and a summer grilling basket, Cessna said.
GCBP is hoping for at least 10 contestants. As for judges, Cessna said the committee hopes that by allowing anyone to judge the burgers, the contest might someday take off like the popular burger contests offered in Nebraska and Iowa.
"If we get enough participants, hopefully it will be something we carry on from year to year," Cessna said.
Winner of the Best Burger in Monroe will receive a wall plaque, advertising and gifts. Participants can register at GreenCountyBeefProducers.wordpress.com, at GCBP's Facebook page or by calling Cessna at 608-214-8939, Becky Drafall at 608-328-4403 or Rena Koning at 608-325-9808.
A listing of all contestants and their entries will be posted throughout Monroe prior to May 1.
"It's a win-win for us promoting the product, and it's good for the businesses because they'll get some publicity for it," Cessna said. "All of our members are or have been beef producers in the county and believe in what we produce. It's a viable meat option that hopefully more people will purchase, especially during the upcoming summer months - the prime time for grilling."