Quick: Name you top three Pike County restaurants.

Now, what’s on your “must-eat” list when friends visit town?

What about your favorite place to shop for a unique and thoughtful birthday gift?

Or the tried-and-true service center where you take your cars for repairs?

And the doctor you trust when you’re feeling miserable?

There you go: Your short-list for the ‘best of’ in Pike County.

Of course, we have a more formal and thorough way of recognizing the Pike County businesses and individuals whose exceptional products and services set them apart: The Readers’ Choice Awards.

Each year, we conduct the Readers’ Choice awards and give you the opportunity to publicly recognize outstanding service right here in our community.

And, each year we receive thousands of votes in categories that range from dental hygienist, coach, to best chicken fingers or best dessert. We seek out and honor the best in dozens of categories, suggested by our readers over the years.

Not surprisingly, our winning businesses covet the honor each year — earning publicly recognition, certificates and the praise of the community they serve.

The ballot for the 2014 Reader’s Choice Awards is inside today’s edition – and will publish each day this week in the print edition of The Messenger.

We’d like to encourage you to take a few minutes and fill it out. You can cast votes in all the categories or simply selected ones, if you choose, and return to our offices at 918 S. Brundidge Street (Troy) or via mail to P.O. Box 727, Troy, Ala., 36081.

Simply completing and returning the ballot will enter you in a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate to one of our Readers’ Choice businesses.

The deadline for returning ballots is March 11 and, once we have them in hand, we’ll tally the votes and announce the winners.

So speak up, cast your vote and let know which businesses and individuals you want to recognize here in Pike County.