Iowa: The Best Move You've Ever Made
Tell us why you moved to Iowa, and what you’ve discovered about life here since making the leap. Is it the perfect place to plant roots and build a future for yourself or your family? Did you find a community that feels like home? Or perhaps found a new level of life that’s achievable, like owning a home or launching a career or business that’s uniquely yours. Your story could inspire others to make The Best Move to Iowa and earn you a $1,000 Visa gift card!
HOW TO ENTER
Submissions will be accepted October 1, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. CDT – November 14, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. CDT.
ENTRANT ELIGIBILITY:
- The entrant must be eighteen (18) years or older and a resident of Iowa.
- Eligible entrants must have moved to Iowa between January 1, 2015 through January 1, 2025.
CONTEST SUBMISSION:
To participate, entrants must:
- Complete the official contest submission form.
- Answer both of the following questions: Why did you move to Iowa? and Why do you love living and working in Iowa?
- Upload a supporting photo or video that includes the entrant.
- Only one (1) contest form submission per household.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Up to five (5) grand prize winners will be chosen. All eligible submissions—including entry forms and accompanying photo or video—will be reviewed and scored by a panel of judges. Entries will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Creativity & Thoughtfulness: Originality, insight, and depth of the submission. Judges will look for fresh perspectives and meaningful reflections outlined by the entrant.
- Clarity of Iowa Aspirations: How clearly and passionately the entrant expresses their motivations for moving to Iowa and their experience of living and working in the state.
- Compelling Personal Story: Emotional resonance and authenticity of the narrative. Judges will consider how engaging and relatable the story is.
- Quality & Relevance of Visual Submission: Effectiveness of the photo or video in supporting and enhancing the written entry. The visual must include the entrant and align with the story being told. Note: Photo and video submissions will be judged equally based on creativity, relevance, and impact. The format of the file (photo vs. video) will not influence scoring.