CEDAR CITY — Built on the backs of iron ore miners, generations of farmers and bold young entrepreneurs, the people of Iron County are proud of the communities they’ve raised. They know exactly what it takes to be the best, and now they have the opportunity to let their voices be heard.
Voting for the 2022 Best of Iron County contest opens Wednesday. From the most trustworthy mechanic to the perfect place for a prime rib dinner, hundreds of businesses are vying to be showcased as the absolute best in the region.
This year’s contest is presented by Cedar City News, its parent company Canyon Media and title sponsor Brian K. Tavoian Family Dentistry, Cedar City’s “smile doctor” for 30 years and counting.
“Best of Iron County continues to be a huge success and gives us the ability to celebrate small and local businesses,” Canyon Media general manager Ben Lindquist said.
Voting will continue through Aug. 10. Visitors can vote in every category daily and are invited to return every day to support their favorite businesses.
Gold and silver award winners will be crowned in 10 consolidated categories: Activities and Entertainment, Business and Services, Food and Beverage, General Services, Home and Garden, Lifestyle and Beauty, Medical, Schools, Shopping, and Vehicles and Services. The winners will be published on Nov. 2 at BestofIronCounty.com.
Known as “Festival City USA,” over 1 million people pass through Cedar City each year. Whether it’s to pay a visit to nearby Cedar Breaks National Monument or catch a play during the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival, everyone needs to know the best places to stop while they’re in Iron County’s biggest city.
Canyon Media will design and publish a glossy magazine to showcase the winning businesses again this year. Along with providing well-deserved recognition, Lindquist said the publication serves as a guidebook that both locals and visitors can use to find quality services all year long.
Canyon Media invests heavily in the magazine to provide it as a free resource for the community. At least 10,000 copies will be distributed throughout the Cedar City area starting in early November.
“People keep them in their cars and houses so that when they’re looking for a service, they can find who their community voted the best,” Lindquist said. “That’s a powerful thing for a business.”
Just like the unique flavor of greater St. George, which was showcased earlier this year during the fourth annual Best of Southern Utah contest, Iron County carries its own charm and style. Lindquist said he believes small businesses are the heart and soul of rural communities, and finding new and better ways to serve the people of the Cedar City area has been a priority for Canyon Media in recent years.
And Iron County spoke up in a big way during last year’s contest, with 541 nominations received and more than 150,000 ballots cast by over 45,000 voters.
“We have been overwhelmed with the community’s response to Best of Iron County,” Lindquist said. “Every year, we make it better and do whatever we can to honor those leaders, managers, owners and employees that make so many businesses in Cedar City and surrounding areas so special.”
Shane Brinkerhoff, president of news operations for Cedar City News, echoed that sentiment and encouraged all Southern Utahns to vote, share and most importantly, patronize the participating businesses.
“We want to see more people from the community involved and more businesses getting their names out there,” he said. “We’re excited to help support and promote local businesses across Iron County.”
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