Cenex will return its Hometown Throwdown competition to support top hometown festivals in the U.S. The company says it is the largest celebration of community pride and local traditions.
This year, Cenex, with corporate offices in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota has more than 1,400 retail locations across 19 states, will award a total of $150,000 to five qualifying festivals, with the grand prize winner receiving $100,000, according to a release.
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Now through Feb. 7, individuals and organizations can share what makes their hometown festival unique for a chance to win up to $100,000 in funding to bring their festival to the next level. The runner-up will take home $20,000, third place will be awarded $15,000, fourth place will receive $10,000 and the fifth-place winner will take home $5,000.
Festivals can be nominated through an online entry form. Five finalists will be announced on May 1, after which there will be a voting period with final results announced on June 17.
Cenex’s Hometown Throwdown is inspired by the brand’s strong local roots and will recognize the pride people across America feel for their hometowns, the best of which is often brought to life through their local community festivals, the company said.
Last year, more than 500 festivals were nominated, three festivals were selected as finalists and more than 7,000 people voted for the grand prize winner. The Norborne Soybean Festival in Missouri garnered the most votes and the won the grand prize of $100,000, while the other two finalists — the Hayward Musky Festival in Wisconsin and the Roseau Fall Harvest Festival in Minnesota — each received $25,000.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Minnesota-based Cenex to fund festivals in Hometown Throwdown