The Arkansas Beef Council announced on Apr. 1 the launch of the 2026 Arkansas’s Best Burger Contest, inviting residents across the state to nominate their favorite burgers made from 100% beef. The contest aims to highlight restaurants that excel in preparing quality beef burgers and supports local cattle producers.
The initiative underscores the importance of beef production in Arkansas, where cattle are raised in all counties and contribute significantly to the agricultural economy. According to the Council, cattle and calves generate more than $824 million annually in cash receipts, making them a major commodity for rural communities.
Nominations can be submitted at arkansasbeef.org through April 30, with one nomination allowed per day per email address. Burgers must be made entirely from beef and listed on a restaurant’s regular or special menu during the contest period. Each location of a restaurant chain will be counted individually for nominations. Regional finalists will be selected, and the burger with the most nominations statewide will be named winner in May.
“We’re thrilled to bring back Arkansas’s Best Burger Contest and shine a light on the restaurants that take pride in serving high‑quality, 100% Arkansas beef,” said Caleb Plyler, a beef producer in Hempstead County and Chairman of the Arkansas Beef Council. “This contest isn’t just about great burgers, it’s about celebrating the farmers and ranchers who raise our cattle, the restaurants that elevate beef on their menus, and the communities that support them. Arkansas knows good beef, and we can’t wait to see which burger rises to the top.”
Past winners include Johnson’s Country Cookin’ Big Daddy Burger from Melbourne and Bailey’s Family Restaurant Caveman Burger from Cave City.
The work aligns with broader efforts by state agencies such as The Arkansas Department of Agriculture, which oversees funding boards allocating millions for research and market development across commodities including rice and soybeans according to its official website. The department manages an agricultural sector valued at over $24 billion annually with about 37,400 farms spanning nearly 13.7 million acres according to its official website. It also advances conservation programs focused on water planning, wildfire protection, reforestation initiatives like Baucum Nursery—which produces millions of seedlings yearly—and promotes sustainable practices statewide according to its official website.
As part of its ongoing commitment beyond food production alone, The Department honors outstanding forest management through annual recognition programs such as Forest Stewards of the Year according to its official website, while promoting access to safe water supplies for economic development and public health according to its official website.
Looking ahead, supporters anticipate strong participation as Arkansans celebrate both culinary excellence at local eateries and contributions by family farms throughout this year’s competition.
