Entries sought for Southern Iowa Tourism Guide trivia contest

Corresponding with its 25th year as a publication, this year’s Southern Iowa Tourism Guide features a trivia contest inside its pages.

The Southern Iowa Tourism Guide is available at Creston Chamber of Commerce, Creston Hy-Vee, Super 8 and Supertel Inn and Conference Center, as well as all four State of Iowa Welcome Centers and throughout the five-county area it covers – Decatur, Ringgold, Taylor, Union and Wayne counties.

“As a way of celebrating 25 years, we decided we would offer this trivia contest, which is located on page 12,” said Ellen Gerharz, president of Southern Iowa Tourism. “Each one of the counties is giving away $25 in something similar to Creston Bucks.”

The Southern Iowa Tourism Guide features articles from each of the five counties, highlighting attractions and events available. It also includes a list of motels and bed and breakfasts, parks with camping and hunting, golf courses, trails, county fairs and farmers markets in each county.

As part of the trivia contest, contestants are required to answer 30 questions and mail in their entries.

“You really have to read the tabloid to answer most of the questions,” Gerharz said. “That was the purpose. We want people to read and then learn about the counties that are covered in this tabloid. It’s kind of a fun thing to do. Most of it would be a day trip for a lot of us. You don’t have to drive very far to get to, say, Decatur or Ringgold counties.”

Entries for the contest must be received by Wednesday, Aug. 15, and can be mailed to the P.O. Box included on the entry form in the tabloid or dropped off at Creston Chamber of Commerce.

All of the information found in the tabloid can also be read online at www.southerniowatourism.com.

There will be five winners of the trivia contest – one for each county.

Gerharz said, ideally, each county’s dollars will go to a resident of that county. However, if a county does not have a winner, the prize will be given to the winner who is closest to that county.

Winners will be notified by mail with a letter and their prize. Gerharz said she hopes to have winners notified before Labor Day.

“We do try to promote as much as we can about these five counties to get people to come visit them, and also to let people know we do do things down here,” Gerharz said. “It’s an inexpensive way for a lot of small businesses to advertise and get their name out.”

Southern Iowa Tourism also has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SouthernIowaTourism.