Professional football players have the Super Bowl.
Golfers have the Masters.
College basketball players have March Madness.
Jefferson County has the Best of Jefferson County?
Well, it feels like that big of a contest to me. Maybe I am being a bit dramatic.
Year two of the Leader’s Best of Jefferson County competition is off to a roaring start with 30,060 votes cast just on the first day.
While the Leader runs the contest, we have zero control over who wins or is crowned a finalist. Because this is Jefferson County’s contest, winners are chosen by the community. The only way to win is to have the most votes.
You get to decide who has the best pizza. You get to decide on the best bank. You get to decide on the best furniture store. You get to decide who is the best in 158 categories.
This year, 1,260 businesses were nominated for recognition. While I know deep in my soul that all those businesses are the best in their own way, not all will be crowned the Best of Jefferson County.
The whole reason for the contest is to give local businesses and people a moment in the spotlight.
We launched the contest last year after years of discussion and several months of intense planning. The goal was to create an annual community event that placed our local businesses in the spotlight, and to support and help market those local businesses and people.
So many Leader readers helped us make that happen last year, and they are back this year, making sure all of their favorite spots are sparkling.
I am so grateful for this.
After last year’s contest, we had some lovely Autumn Ridge residents stop by the Leader for a tour and one shared she needed her windshield replaced and used the Best of Jefferson County 2025 results to find a company.
This made my heart sing with so much pride in our local businesses and our community members who know the importance of local.
When my typical car mechanic (my dad) was out of town and I needed help, I decided to do the same. I looked at the 2025 list and saw Bates Automotive & Restoration Center had taken home the title for Best Auto Mechanic Shop.
I called them up and booked an appointment, I walked in and saw their plaque displayed in the waiting room.
I received fantastic service, and now I know why Leader readers voted them the best last year. They will be soon seeing me more regularly for oil changes.
I was back just last week and saw the signs about voting in the waiting room.
Just like a presidential election, I will never reveal for whom I vote. However, I can assure you I am voting for my favorites every single day in all 158 categories.
Local businesses, like Bates and so many others, are a major piece of the fabric of our community. They create jobs, support schools, sponsor fundraising events and are involved in our towns.
Have you ever seen a big box chain helping beautify Main Street? It is typically locals who have rooted their families and businesses here, always working to make it a better place.
I have one vote per day in each category, just like you. The contest runs for 18 days, so that is 2,844 votes you can cast or 2,844 opportunities to give back to the locals who give so much every single day.
Again, Leader readers decide who is the best.
Voting in the contest is an easy way to give back and support local businesses and people who help our community every single day.
But I encourage you to support locals not just during the contest, but every single day. Shop local, leave a positive review, share a social media post, tell friends about amazing service. Always support local.
Vote daily at www.myleaderpaper.com/bestof/.