Clarion Locker has best brats in Iowa

Manie and Elmarie Nel, owners of the Clarion Locker, were awarded first place in the State Fair’s Best of the Wurst competition for their uncooked bratwurst. They also received the Reserve Champion award for their smoked and cured ham from the Iowa Meat Processors Association.

            “We know we have good brats, because they’re our number one seller,” Elmarie said. The Nels make four flavors of bratwurst:regular, blue cheese, cheddar, and jalapeño cheddar. Brats entered in the Best of the Wurst competition are judged on texture, external appearance, and internal appearance.

This isn’t the first year the Nels have placed at the fair. Last year, they took second place for their jalapeño cheddar brats. In 2010, one year after they moved to Clarion, they took first place for regular brats. However, they are most excited about the award for their ham, which was ranked fourth out of the 62 judged hams.

            “The ham for us is a bigger award, because it’s a more intense competition,” Elmarie said. “This is one of their biggest competitions in their history of shows since 1981.”