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Staci’s Bar and Grill in Woodstock was recently crowned grand champion of the 2025 Pipestone County Burger Battle organized by the Pipestone County Cattlemen’s Association. The winning burger, called the “Dubliner,” included a one-third pound burger with grilled corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, “pot of gold” sauce and coleslaw.
Seven restaurants in Pipestone County participated in the burger battle. They included the Tally Ho Koffie/Gray Wolf Saloon in Edgerton; the Hatfield Roadhouse; Kor’s Korner Pub in Holland; the Pipestone Country Club, the Stonehouse & Quarry Lounge, and Bole-Mor Lanes Bar & Grill in Pipestone; and Staci’s Bar and Grill. Each participating business created its own special burger for the burger battle.
“They put some real work into it and it was fun to get the responses in just to see what they came up with,” said Teresa Zeinstra, a member of the Pipestone County Cattlemen’s Association, before the burger battle started. “I think our county residents are going to have fun making it a goal to see if they can get to all seven places.”
Diners were asked to rate the burgers on a scale of one to five, with five being the best, on presentation, creativity and taste during the contest, which lasted from March 7 to April 27. Ballots were available at the restaurants and those who tried the burgers could turn their completed ballots in to their server.
According to the Pipestone County Cattlemen’s Association, 1,487 ballots were cast during the event. The winners were announced on Friday, May 2. Staci’s Bar and Grill also won best presentation with the “Dubliner.” The Hatfield Roadhouse won first place in the taste category with its burger called the “Prime Dip Burger.” It included a one-third pound patty, thinly sliced prime rib and Swiss cheese with au jus on the side. The Pipestone Country Club won first place for creativity with its burger called “The Morning Meat Monster,” which included a one-third pound hamburger patty between two handmade tater-tot waffles, jelly, peanut butter, American cheese, bacon and a fried egg, topped with maple hot honey syrup.
Zeinstra said burger battles have been popular in other counties in the area and the Pipestone County Cattlemen’s Association thought it seemed fitting to organize one in Pipestone County. She said the group’s goals with the burger battle included promoting beef in partnership with businesses in the county and encouraging people to support local businesses and enjoy what they have to offer. It seems to have accomplished that as the group estimated that the burger battle generated between $25,000 and $35,000 in revenue for the participants, including just the single burger orders.
The Pipestone County Cattlemen’s Association plans to make the burger battle an annual event.