Best of Otter Tail County 2022

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OTTER TAIL

THIS IS ONE PLAQUE WE DON’T MIND SEEING

LifeSmiles Dental is proud to be named Otter Tail County’s Best Dentist for the third year in a row! We appreciate all of our amazing patients for your continued support throughout the years. Thank you for helping make our practice just a small part of what makes Otter Tail County such a special place to call home.

We’re delighted and grateful

to have been part of this year’s Best of Otter Tail County awards. We’re proud of the winners, all of our nominees and the teams who support them at all of our locations. Together they deliver on our mission to enrich life through health and support our calling to be here for you. Always.

The doctors of InVision have earned the love and respect of their patients by giving each and every one the quality time they deserve. Thank you for nominating us for Best Optometrist, Best Eyewear & Best Place to Work in Otter Tail County!

OTTER TAIL County Bestof 2022

Welcome to the Best of Otter Tail County 2022!

By Ken Harty

At Daily Journal Media, we have been working hard on the Best of Otter Tail County for the past two-and-a-half months, and I am proud to say that the results are in!

In this special edition, you will see ads from those who made it to the top 3 based off community voting. The entire list of top three in each category, including winners, are listed in the following pages. This year, we had 124 categories open for nominations and voting, which was all done online on our website, fergusfallsjournal.com.

There was a 28-day nomination period followed by a 21-day voting period. This resulted in more than 12,000 nominations and more than 46,000 votes. These are really good statistics for year three of this promotion, and it has grown at a rapid pace each year.

Each first place winner received a framed certificate that they can hang in their place of business, and we provided window clings to the top 3 winners in each category.

As always, we are thankful for all of our readers who have made this possi ble by nominating their favorites and casting their votes. The support for this promotion in our community is overwhelming and we are forever grateful.

This special section would not be possible without our advertisers, whom we cannot thank enough. Please support our advertisers by visiting their places of business and tell them you saw their ad in Best of Otter Tail County.

Journal

OTTER TAIL County Bestof

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

Winner The Bric Second Place Maurices Third Place Dandelion & Burdock

BEST WOMEN’S STORE Winner Dandelion & Burdock Second Place Maurices Third Place SoapWerks Naturals

Food & Drink

BEST BAKERY

Winner Bev’s City Bakery

Second Place Falls Baking Company Third Place Service Food Market

BEST CINNAMON / CARAMEL ROLLS

Winner Bev’s City Bakery

Fashion & Beauty

BEST BARBER

Winner Jesse Harlow

Second Place Justin Richter

Third Place Kim Weishair

BEST BARBER SHOP

Winner Handcrafted Barber Studio

Second Place Uptown Barber Shop Third Place Justin’s Barber Shop

BEST HAIR SALON

Winner 715 Hot Heads Second Place Family Hair Clinic Third Place Salon Eclips

BEST HAIR STYLIST

Winner Erin Easton Second Place Lauren Carlson Third Place Elora Flores

BEST NAIL SALON

Winner Exsalonce

Second Place Envy Nails Third Place LA Nails

BEST NAIL TECH

Winner Katie Cole

Second Place Kim Neuleib

Third Place Keli Krensing-Schmitz

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

Winner Dandelion & Burdock

Second Place Fleet Farm

Third Place Dunham’s Sports

BEST CRAFT BEER SELECTION

Winner Outstate Brewing Company

Second Place The Rusty Nail Third Place Fergus Brewing Company

BEST HARD CIDER

Winner 1910 Sip House

Second Place The Rusty Nail Third Place Fergus Liquor Store

BEST SIGNATURE COCKTAIL

Winner The Rusty Nail Second Place Dining Car #423 / Steel Wheels

Third Place Battle Lake Boathouse

BEST WINE SELECTION

Winner Fergus Liquor Store

Second Place Stella’s Third Place Spanky’s Stone Hearth

Second Place The Viking Cafe Third Place The Corner Store on Otter Tail Lake

BEST DONUTS

Winner Bev’s City Bakery Second Place Service Food Market Third Place Casey’s

BEST PANCAKES

Winner The Viking Cafe Second Place Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Third Place Big Chief Cafe

BEST PLACE FOR BREAKFAST

Winner The Viking Cafe Second Place TÖAST Third Place The Fabled Farmer

BEST COFFEE SHOP / KIOSK

Winner Perks Coffee & Tea

Second Place Cally’s Cafe & Coffee Third Place Scooter’s Coffee

BEST CUP OF COFFEE

Winner Perks Coffee & Tea

Second Place Cally’s Cafe & Coffee Third Place TÖAST

BEST BAR

Winner The Rusty Nail Second Place Socials Bar & Grill Third Place VFW Post 612

BEST BREWERY

Winner Outstate Brewing Company

Second Place Fergus Brewing Company Third Place Disgruntled Brewing

COLDEST BEER

Winner The Rusty Nail

Second Place Outstate Brewing Company Third Place Fergus Brewing Company

BEST MARGARITA

Winner Fiesta Brava Second Place Don Pablo’s Mexican Family Restaurant Third Place Zorbaz

BEST BUTCHER SHOP / MEAT MARKET

Winner Premier Meats & Seafood

Second Place Amor Pork Store Third Place Lake Cabin Meat & Deli Company

BEST APPETIZERS

Winner Zens Steak and Seafood Second Place The Rusty Nail Third Place Socials Bar & Grill

BEST NACHOS

Winner Zorbaz Second Place The Rusty Nail Third Place Mabel Murphy’s

BEST SOUP

Winner Mabel Murphy’s Second Place The Rusty Nail Third Place The Fabled Farmer

BEST PIZZA

Winner Union Pizza & Brewing Co. Second Place Zorbaz Third Place Casey’s

BEST BBQ RIBS

Winner American Legion Post 30

Second Place Stub’s Dining & Saloon

Third Place Mabel Murphy’s

BEST CHICKEN WINGS

Winner The Rusty Nail

Second Place Applebee’s Grill + Bar

Third Place Socials Bar & Grill

BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Winner Service Food Market

Second Place Pizza Ranch

Third Place Underwood Quik Stop & Cafe

BEST HAMBURGER

Winner The Rusty Nail

Second Place Socials Bar & Grill

Third Place Palmer’s Kitchen and Bar

BEST STEAK

Winner Zens Steak and Seafood

Second Place Spanky’s Stone Hearth

Third Place Stub’s Dining & Saloon

BEST DINING

Winner Zens Steak and Seafood

Second Place Spanky’s Woodfire Grill

Third Place The Rusty Nail

BEST ETHNIC FOOD

Winner Fiesta Brava

Second Place Don Pablo’s Mexican Family Restaurant

Third Place Fish Factor 108

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Winner Fish Factor 108

Second Place Rubyspinoyfood

Third Place Ole & Lena’s Pizza

BEST PLACE FOR LUNCH

Winner Zens Steak and Seafood

Second Place The Rusty Nail

Third Place TÖAST

BEST LAKES AREA FOOD

Winner Zens Steak and Seafood

Second Place The Rusty Nail Third Place Zorbaz

BEST LAKESIDE WATERING HOLE

Winner Zorbaz

Second Place The Rusty Nail

Third Place Beach Bums Bar & Eatery

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

Winner Zorbaz

Second Place Stella’s Third Place The Rusty Nail

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Winner Zens Steak and Seafood

Second Place Fish Factor 108

Third Place SteVelly’s Steak

BEST ICE CREAM / FROZEN TREAT

Winner Uncle Eddie’s Second Place Granny’s Pantry

Third Place Peney Cakes Cupcakery

BEST DESSERT

Winner Uncle Eddie’s Second Place Dairyland

Third Place Granny’s Pantry

We want to thank you for the nomination for Best Real Estate Company of Otter Tail County, and thank the community for our past two year wins!

We would also like to extend a congratulations to our agents who were nominated this year: Laura Johnson, Mar y Pettit, Ryan Hanson, Heidi Chamberlain, and Riane Raths!

Thank you for continuing to trust us and our team of agents to help our community with the buying and selling of Otter Tail County Homes. We are the Number 1 brokerage in OTC with 341 homes sold Year to Date and $92,282,151 volume closed Year to Date!

Health & Wellness

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

Winner Jill Iverson

Second Place Kelly Smith

Third Place Tysdal Chiropractic

BEST DENTIST

Winner LifeSmiles Dental

Second Place Otter Tail Dental

Third Place Prairie’s Edge

BEST DOCTOR

Winner Dr. Julie Gutzmer

Second Place Dr Wade Swenson

Third Place Dr Mark Vukonich

BEST NURSE

Winner Tammy Mark

Second Place Madeline Iversen

Third Place Heidi Peterson

BEST NURSE PRACTITIONER / PHYSICIAN’S

ASSISTANT

Winner Ashley McCauley

Second Place Alyssa Manning

Third Place Kiana Deal

BEST HOSPITAL

Winner Lake Region Healthcare

Second Place Sanford Clinic

Third Place Perham Health Clinic

BEST OPTOMITRIST

Winner InVision Eye Care

Second Place Dr. Jon Kaliher

Third Place Dr. Christine Olmsted

BEST EYEWEAR

Winner InVision Eye Care

Second Place 20/20 Optical

Third Place Eye 2 Eye Optical

BEST HOME HEALTHCARE BUSINESS

Winner LB HomeCare

Second Place New Dimensions Home Health Care, Inc.

Third Place Harmony Home Health Care

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY BUSINESS

Winner Lake Region Healthcare

Second Place Northwest Rehabilitation Services

Third Place Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy Inc

BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST

Winner Danielle Elliott

Second Place Byrdie Bodyworks

Third Place Molly Nelson

BEST GYM / EXERCISE BUSINESS

Winner Fergus Falls Area Family YMCA

Second Place New Beginnings Family Fitness

Third Place LRH Unity Wellness

People & Places

BEST ELECTED OFFICIAL

Winner Jordan Rasmusson

Second Place Ben Schierer

Third Place Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons

BEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Winner Connor West

Second Place Joey Geiszler

Third Place Barry Fitzgibbons

Third Place Tyler Young

BEST FIREMAN / WOMAN

Winner Cody Lehmann

Second Place Jonah Hove

Third Place Tj Goulet

BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION

Winner Fergus Falls Mowing Club

Second Place SAGA Youth

Third Place Blessing Closet

BEST COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER

Winner Jesse Thorstad

Second Place Tara Kempfer

Third Place Krystyne Frandson

BEST CIVIC CLUB

Winner Underwood Lions

Second Place Fergus Falls Noon Rotary

Third Place Fergus Falls Lions

Third Place Fergus Falls Sunrise Rotary

BEST LAKE RESORT

Winner Ten Mile Lake Resort

Second Place Swan Lake Resort & Campground

Third Place Holly’s Resort

BEST BOWLING ALLEY

Winner Northern Aire Bowling Lanes

Second Place Shoreline Restaurant Bar and Bowl

Third Place The Cactus

BEST GOLF COURSE

Winner Pebble Lake Golf Course

Second Place Stalker Lake Golf Course

Third Place Thumper Pond Golf Course

BEST HIKING TRAIL

Winner Maplewood State Park

Second Place Glendalough State Park

Third Place Prairie Wetlands Learning Center

BEST PARK

Winner Glendalough State Park

Second Place Maplewood State Park

Third Place Phelps Mill Park

BEST AREA FESTIVAL / EVENT

Winner SummerFest, Fergus Falls

Second Place Erhard 4th of July - Parade

Third Place Phelps Mill Festival

BEST ARTS BUSINESS

Winner Creation Shop

Second Place Springboard For the Arts

Third Place Creative Handmade Goods

BEST PLACE FOR FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

Winner Otter Cove Children’s Museum

Second Place Northern Aire Bowling Lanes

Third Place Fergus Falls Center For Arts

Third Place I 94 Speedway Inc

BEST PLACE TO WORK

Winner Multi Business Solutions

Second Place Northstar Behavioral Health Fergus falls

Third Place InVision Eye Care

BEST RACE CAR DRIVER

Winner Sean Biittner-Rheault

Second Place Sam Zender

Third Place Travis Saurer

BEST FISHING/HUNTING GUIDE

Winner Chill Guide Service

Second Place Thalmann’s Guide Service

Third Place Tim Bosworth

Professional Services

BEST ATTORNEY

Winner Pemberton Law Firm

Second Place Chad D Miller

Third Place Ahlgren Law Office

BEST TITLE COMPANY

Winner West Central Abstracting Co

Second Place N. F. Field

BEST REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

Winner Keller Williams

Second Place Lakes Family Real Estate AKA Otter Tail Real Estate

Third Place Century 21 Atwood

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

Winner Lyn Bjorgaard

Second Place Ryan Hanson Third Place Ri Raths

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY

Winner Security Insurance & Investments

Second Place Rohde Insurance Services

Third Place Annabelle & Associates, Inc

BEST INSURANCE AGENT

Winner Kathryn Vukonich

Second Place Mickey Rhode

Third Place American Family Insurance

BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Winner Keven Crabtree

Second Place Missy Hexum

Third Place Justin Arneson

BEST BANK

Winner Bell Bank, Fergus Falls

Second Place Gate City Bank

Third Place Farmers State Bank

BEST CREDIT UNION

Winner Affinity Plus Credit Union Second Place Dawson Co-op Credit Union

BEST VETERINARIAN

Winner Companion Animal Clinic

Second Place Fergus Falls Animal Care Clinic

Third Place Lakes Veterinary Hospital

BEST HOME APPRAISER

Winner Steve Schierer

Second Place Pillar to post Cody Lewis

Services

BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP

Winner Advanced Auto Care

Second Place Minnesota Motor Company

Third Place Pebble Lake Auto Repair Inc. & Exhaust Pros

BEST MECHANIC

Winner Troy Eggen

Second Place Nic Hendrickx

Third Place Nate Gray

BEST AUTO BODY SHOP

Winner Beyer Towing

Second Place Pebble Lake Auto Third Place ABRA Auto Body Fergus Falls

BEST CAR WASH

Winner Fleet Farm

Second Place Wash N’ Go

Third Place Minnesota Motor Company

BEST PAINTING COMPANY

Winner Jayson Mueller Painting

Second Place Newman Drywall & Painting Services Inc

Third Place Bill Sudor

BEST FENCE COMPANY

Winner Atlas Outdoor Services

Second Place Heartland Custom Fence

BEST REMODELING CONTRACTOR

Winner Brooks Construction & Maintenance

Second Place Jim Casper, Custom Deck Works

Third Place Jason Hasling

BEST PLUMBER

Winner Anytime Plumbing

Second Place Plumbers Inc

Third Place T. Walls Plumbing

BEST ELECTRICIAN

Winner Premier Electric Inc.

Second Place JB Electric

Third Place Cossette Electric

BEST HEATING & COOLING BUSINESS

Winner Bjorn’s Heating & Air Conditioning

Second Place John’s Heating & Air Conditioning

Third Place Ugstad’s Fergus Falls

BEST PET GROOMER

Winner Rustic Ruff Dog Grooming Salon

Second Place Soapy Puppy

Third Place Canine Acres

BEST PET BOARDER

Winner Canine Acres

Second Place Wiggles & Wags

Third Place Erhard Hills Pet Resort LCC

BEST APPLIANCE REPAIR

Winner Fergus Home & Hardware

Second Place Sears Hometown Store

BEST GRAIN ELEVATOR

Winner CHS

Second Place Farmers Elevator Co

BEST HOME BUILDER

Winner Brooks Construction & Maintenance

Second Place Dave Erwin Construction Inc

Third Place NCS Homes, Inc.

BEST ROOFING/SIDING/GUTTER COMPANY

Winner Otter Seamless

Winner Turtle Lake Seamless

BEST TAXIDERMIST

Winner Natural Images Taxidermy

Second Place Greg Cariveau, Pelican Rapids

BEST TRUCKING COMPANY

Winner Larry Ott, Inc, Fergus Falls

Second Place Five Star Trucking

Fergus Falls you

Spa

such

Medicupping:

Face lifting and

Body cupping

couples

Parties,

Shopping

BEST AUTO PARTS

Winner O’Reilly Auto Parts

Second Place NAPA Auto Parts, Fergus Falls

Third Place Auto Value, Fergus Falls

BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP

Winner

Minnesota Motor Company

Second Place Quality Toyota Third Place Nelson Auto Center

BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP

Winner Minnesota Motor Company

Second Place River City Auto

Third Place College Way Auto Sales & Service

BEST GIFT SHOP

Winner The Market

Second Place Victor Lundeen Company

Third Place Lionseed Bookstore & Learning Commons

BEST FURNITURE STORE

Winner Jaeger Furniture

Second Place Fergus Home & Hardware

Third Place Olson Furniture Store

BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE

Winner Dunham’s Sports

Second Place Fergus Home & Hardware

Third Place JK Sports

BEST BAIT SHOP

Winner Ben’s Bait Shop

Second Place Lakeland General Store

Third Place Little Chief Outpost

BEST HUNTING & FISHING STORE

Winner Fleet Farm

Second Place JK Sports

Third Place Gene’s Sport Shop

BEST HARDWARE STORE

Winner Fergus Home & Hardware

Second Place The Home Depot

Third Place Lakeland General Store

BEST AG IMPLEMENT DEALER

Winner RDO Equipment Co.

BEST JEWELRY STORE

Winner Mauk Jewelers

Second Place Kraning Jewelry

BEST BOAT / MARINE DEALER

Winner Frontier Marine & Power Sports

Se cond Place Extreme Marine

BEST JET SKI / SNOWMOBILE / ATV DEALER

Winner Frontier Marine & Power Sports

Second Place Ray’s Sport & Marine

BEST RV / CAMPER DEALER

Winner Pine Plaza RV

BEST FLOORING / CARPETING STORE

Winner Seland’s Abbey Flooring Center

Second Place Fergus Home & Hardware

Third Place Pro Floor & Tile

BEST GROCERY STORE

Winner Service Food Market

Second Place ALDI

Third Place Larry’s Super Market of Pelican Rapids

BEST GAS STATION / CONVENIENCE STORE

Winner Casey’s

Second Place Holiday Stationstores Fergus Falls

Third Place Lakeway Express

BEST TIRE STORE

Winner Fergus Tire Center

Second Place Sinclair

BEST HOME APPLIANCE STORE

Winner Fergus Home & Hardware

Second Place The Home Depot

Third Place Pine Plaza Appliances

BEST CBD RETAILER

Winner Sugar High Cannabis Consulting & Dispensary

Second Place Lincoln Vapors

BEST THRIFT STORE

Winner Coras Closet

Second Place Krupke’s Konsignments

Third Place Welcome House

OTTER TAIL County Bestof