CLAY COUNTY – Do you know a business that makes the best wings, provides the quickest oil changes, makes repairs on time for a fair price or serves the coldest beer? Or how about a doctor who takes a little extra time to hear your symptoms to provide an extra level of care? Or maybe it’s something as simple, yet heartfelt, as a clerk or server who takes a moment to smile and tell you to have a nice day? 

Then the 2026 BEST OF CLAY is your way to show your gratitude. 

The eighth annual event will accept nominations from Feb. 9 through Feb. 25 in a myriad of categories like Medical, Eat and Drink, Business, Home and Finance, Education, Auto and Transportation, Professionals, Shopping and Commerce and the overall Best of the Best in the county. 

Each of those primary categories features dozens of subcategories. For example, there were 30 groups under Eat and Drink last year. 

First, the business must be located in Clay County to be eligible. To nominate a business, visit claytodayonline.com/bestofclay/2026. Participants can only nominate their favorite business once a day, and the five businesses with the most nominations will advance to the BEST OF CLAY balloting. 

Nomination tabulations and BEST OF CLAY voting is calculated by a third party. Clay Today does not have access to the figures, nor can any of the editors, reporters nor management add businesses or change votes. 

BEST OF CLAY voting will run from March 16 to April 1. 

The winner and the top two finalists will be featured in the printed WINNERS’ CIRCLE special section on April 23. 

The contest is designed for the enjoyment of our readers and to give recognition to businesses, organizations, people and places in Clay County. 

In 2024, there were 45,000 nominations, and more than 179,000 votes were cast for 274 winners, although readers could only vote once a day in each category.