Chances are you do.

Tenderloin is a deep-fried delicacy that inspires deep devotion among fans.

I always enjoy a good tenderloin sandwich and have no doubt that the best in the state are served right here in Northwest Missouri.

And now, we’re going to help prove it.

The Missouri Pork Association is sponsoring a contest to name the state’s best breaded pork tenderloin. This is no small contest: The winner gets $500, a plaque to hang in the restaurant and statewide publicity.

No reason why all that publicity shouldn’t come to Northwest Missouri, home of hog farms, pork processing and down-home diners.

The pork association said they’ve only received a few entries so far, so the chances of bringing home the trophy are within sight.

Here’s how it works. Restaurants submit their own information, with only one entry per business. There’s no need to conduct broad petition drives to gather names, but each restaurant needs one complete application with a description and photo of the tenderloin.

In the first round of the competition, the entries are judged only on the written description and photo.

This is where the business staff of the News-Press is willing to help. We may not have a lot of marketable skills, but we can write. And we all fancy ourselves tenderloin connoisseurs.

We’re going to do all we can to encourage local restaurants to enter. We’ll help fill out the applications and take photos. We’ll help write descriptions.

When it comes to tenderloins, battle lines are drawn and people are willing to take up arms on which restaurant serves the best one. At the newspaper, we’re not going to pick sides, just do all we can to bring the trophy to our region.

Prizes are awarded for the top six restaurants. My goal is to have at least six entries from Northwest Missouri so we have a chance at a sweep.

Don’t worry, the pork association says it is perfectly within bounds to assist restaurants with the application.

As a tenderloin supporter, you need to help. Pester your local restaurant to make sure they know about the contest and have entered. Have them call me at (816) 271-8560 and I’ll help them get an application. They are also online at www.mopork.org.

Business owners, call us and we’ll lend our assistance with writing breathtaking descriptions of breading, oils and tenderloin so good you’d walk over broken glass to get to it. You’re busy cooking; we’ll also help take pictures and submit applications.

Don’t dally — the deadline is June 13, just two weeks away.

If there’s one thing Northwest Missouri can get behind, it’s a good tenderloin. I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.

Business editor Susan Mires can be reached

at susanm@npgco.com.