INDIANAPOLIS – With more than 5,000 votes, the public has selected the winners of the annual Best of Indiana awards. The awards, presented by Visit Indiana, asked Hoosiers to select Indiana’s Best Local Barbecue Joint, Best Trail and Best U-Pick Experience. The winners are:

• Best Local Barbecue Joint: Shigs in Pit, Fort Wayne
• Best Trail: Brown County State Park
• Best U-Pick Experience: Kuehnert Dairy Farm, Fort Wayne

“We had a number of terrific nominees for this year’s Best of Indiana awards and our winners highlight some great destinations in our state,” said Mark Newman, Visit Indiana executive director. “Our mouth-watering local barbecue joints and family-friendly U-pick farms are great examples of Indiana’s agrotourism and culinary profile. Additionally, Brown County State Park is a world-class destination with one of the finest biking trail systems in the country.”

Voters had many candidates to choose from and they named Shigs in Pit, Fort Wayne, the best local barbecue joint in Indiana. Squealers BBQ, Mooresville, and Barbecue and Bourbon, Speedway, rounded out the top three locations in this category.

Voters deemed Brown County State Park as home to the best trail in Indiana. With urban trails connecting popular destinations in large cities, plus rugged, off-road trails covering our most beautiful topography, Indiana has much to offer for outdoor enthusiasts. Rivergreenway, Fort Wayne, and the Monon Trail, Indianapolis, were also in the top three.

Voters named Kuehnert Dairy Farm, Fort Wayne, the state’s best “u-pick” experience. Tuttle Orchards, Greenfield, and Stonycreek Farms, Noblesville, finished second and third respectively.

Nominees for Best Local Barbecue Joint, Best Trails and Best U-Pick Experience were recommended by members of Indiana’s travel, tourism and hospitality industry with final selections made by Visit Indiana. The competition began in early September and the public could vote for up to five nominees in each category.