FINALISTS FROM LOUISVILLE AND LA GRANGE

March 5, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The votes are in and burger fans have spoken! More than 13,000 beef lovers voted online to help pick the top 4 finalists for this year’s Derby Burger Challenge sponsored by 80 Acres Farms, Dan-O’s Seasoning, Kentucky Beef Council and Kroger. This year’s chefs include: Ira Mowman of Louisville with the Kentucky Fiesta Cheese Burger; Bette Niemi of Louisville with the Perfect Peppery Prosciutto Burger; Steve Rossell of Louisville with The Cowboy; and Greg Yopp of La Grange, Ky., with the Brielicious Burger.

Dozens of original recipes were submitted for the competition featuring a variety of burgers with unique ingredients, including prosciutto, red pepper jelly, balsamic, apple cider vinegar, avocado spread, caramelized onion jam, bacon jam, marinara, pepperoni, apple butter, and more.

The final cook-off is set for Monday, March 10 at the Kroger in Middletown (12501 Shelbyville Road), where the 2025 Derby Burger Champion will be named. All burgers must be 100 percent Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef (Kentucky Beef Council is the Official Beef of the Kentucky Derby Festival) and include Dan-O’s Seasoning (Official Seasoning of the Festival) and 80 Acres Farms (Official Greens of the Festival) in the recipe. Burger recipes are judged based on Taste, Appearance, Creativity and Ease of Preparation. Official rules of the competition can be found online at www.kdf.org/beef.

The winning burger will be featured at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville on the Waterfront during Derby Festival, as well as inside Kroger stores. The winning chef also receives a 2025 Official Derby Festival Poster, two VIP tickets to the Thunder Over Louisville VIP Rooftop Party, two VIP tickets to Republic Bank BourbonVille, a $100 gift certificate to Kroger, a grilling prize package courtesy of the Kentucky Beef Council, which includes a grill, a prize package from Dan-O’s Seasoning, and an 80 Acres Farms Swag Pack.