The Oklahoma Main Street Center announced the winners of the program’s annual statewide awards competition. Finalists were recognized and the winners announced during the 33rd annual Main Street Awards Banquet, May 2nd, in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma’s Best Beef Competition was a finalist for ‘Creative New Event’ and won the award for ‘Premier Special Event Under 1,000 Attendees’.
Programs across the state competed in 23 award categories representing the “Four Points” of the Main Street Approach: Organization, Promotion, Economic Vitality and Design. Panels of outside judges for each point reviewed the entries and determined the winners. In addition, Program of the Year and the Watonga Bog Shoemaker Award (Program Director of the Year) were also recognized.
“These awards truly showcase the hard work and efforts by so many in our local programs,” said Buffy Hughes, director of the Oklahoma Main Street Center. “Through the unique and time-honored events, the volunteers, the restoration efforts and all the small businesses that make our downtowns and historic commercial districts so great, these awards prove that Main Streets across Oklahoma are alive and thriving. Congratulations to all the top three finishers and the winners.”
The Oklahoma’s Best Beef Competition was created with the idea to showcase Oklahoma Ranchers and their braded beef product straight to the consumer. Partnership with Stockyard’s City allowed the Foundation to pair ten different ranchers with local and state celebrities, and the public was invited to vote for the People’s Choice award. Contestants served sirloin steak samples to participants and shared their personal ranch stories and educate on their product. For this inaugural event, approximately 600 people got to sample delicious steak from across Oklahoma. The 2nd Oklahoma’s Best Beef Competition will be held October 21, 2023.
The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation strives to support the Oklahoma cattle industry by preserving past traditions and educating current and future generations in coordination wih OCA and OJCA.
The 2023 Point award winners are:
ORGANIZATION:
Premier Partner Enid – Park Avenue Thrift
Best Main Street Community Education Campaign
Yukon – Yukon’s Best History & Display Contest
Outstanding Community Engagement Effort
Ponca City – Ice on the Plaza
Main Street Hero
Ardmore – Matt Hoage
Best Creative Fundraising Effort
Ponca City – Ice on the Plaza
Outstanding Public Official
Pryor – Larry Lees
PROMOTION:
Premier Special Event Under 1,000 Attendees
Stockyards City – “Oklahoma’s Best Beef” Competition
Premier Special Event Over 1,000 Attendees
Ponca City – Ice on the Plaza
Best Main Street Retail Event
Tahlequah – Ladies Night Out
Outstanding Image Promotion
Tahlequah – Community Rebrand
Creative New Event
Sapulpa – Route 66 Christmas Chute
DESIGN:
Best Placemaking Project
Ardmore – Depot Park
Best Interior Design Project Under $25,000
Woodward – Persimmon Creek Gifts
Best Interior Design Project Over $25,000
Okmulgee – The Merc on Morton Loft
Best Façade Rehabilitation Over $10,000
Perry – 1893 Axe House & Red Earth D’Signs
Best Visual Merchandising
Sapulpa – Gasoline Alley Classics
Best Building/Business Branding
Altus – Perry & Co.
ECONOMIC VITALITY:
Best Adaptive Reuse Project Under $25,000
Ponca City – My Media Matters
Best Adaptive Reuse Project Over $25,000
Sapulpa – Gasoline Alley Classics
Outstanding Entrepreneurial Endeavor
Altus – The Studio
Outstanding Business Expansion
Stockyards City – National Saddlery
Best New Business
Ponca City – The Farm House Kids Co.
Business of the Year
Yukon – The Arrangement
