Iowa and New York Beef Councils Launch Burger Battle 2022

Nothing beats the taste of a delicious mouth-watering burger. There are tons of great burgers out there, but have you ever wondered where the home of the best burger is? The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and New York Beef Council (NYBC) are sending forth their state’s best burger to answer that exact question.

This is the second year of this intense bragging rights competition and as of right now, Iowa is home to the best burger, for they were the 2021 winner. Will Iowa be able to keep its title? Will New York seek revenge? Time will tell. Starting June 6, consumers will have the chance to cast their vote for either The Flying Elbow in Iowa or Ale n’ Angus Pub in New York.

The 2022 Iowa’s best burger was awarded, in early May, to The Flying Elbow in Marshalltown for their “Tombstone” smashburger. The burger itself features a blend of chuck, brisket and short rib, which is fresh, never frozen, and sourced from Midwest cattle. It also contains Wagyu beef, raised by a Marshalltown producer. The winning Tombstone burger toppings consist of Manchego cheese, guacamole, bacon, sour cream, shredded lettuce, tomato, and death valley hot sauce on the side. It, however, can be dressed in multiple different ways. Making this combination unlike any other.

Iowa’s selection process begins with the public voting for their favorite burger place. From this, Iowa gathers the “Top 10” burger joints and sends anonymous judges to each restaurant to score each burger. They then proceed to pick the best burger based on taste, doneness, and presentation.

The title of the 2022 New York’s best burger was awarded to Ale ‘n’ Angus Pub in Syracuse in early May. This burger brings a lot to the table which explains why it was also able to bring home the title of New York’s best burger. This “Holy Smokers Burger” is made up of an 8oz Certified Angus Beef patty topped with smoked beef brisket, pepper jack cheese, house-made seasoned onion straws, and house-made brown sugar BBQ sauce, all on a delicious Pretzel Bun. 

Just like Iowa, New York’s selection process begins as a public vote. It then gets narrowed down to the final four and a cook-off with a team of judges takes place to select the overall best burger.

The best burger contest in each state is extremely beneficial. It not only gets consumers excited to eat beef but also teaches them about beef production. To assist in the effort of spreading the word about beef, Iowa’s Best Burger Contest is sponsored by IBIC through the Iowa State Beef Checkoff and the Iowa Cattlemen’s. The Best New York Burger Contest is made possible with funding from IBIC.

New Yorkers and Iowans are dying to know which is home to the ultimate Best Burger. Is the home of the best burger in the big city or is it in the heart of the Midwest? Your vote can help decide! Be sure to cast your vote for the ultimate best burger starting June 6 using the online nomination form. It won’t be open for long though! The nominations period will close at 11:59 p.m. on June 13, so don’t forget to vote.

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About Iowa’s Best Burger: The Iowa’s Best Burger Contest is sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and funded in-part by the Iowa Beef Industry Council through the Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program.

About the Iowa Beef Industry Council: The Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the $1-per-head National Beef Checkoff Program and the $0.50-per-head Iowa State Beef Checkoff. Checkoff dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information and foreign market development, all with the purpose of strengthening beef demand. For more information, visit www.iabeef.org.

About Best New York Burger: The New York Best Burger Contest is made possible sponsored by NYBC and made possible by funding from IBIC. 

About the New York Beef Council: The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The Beef Checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), which administers the national Beef Checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. Consumer-focused and producer-directed, the CBB and its State Beef Council partners are the marketing organization for the largest segment of the food and fiber industry.

About the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association: The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association represents nearly 8,000 beef-producing families and associated companies dedicated to the future of Iowa’s Beef Industry. ICA’s mission is “Grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education.”