English novelist Samuel Butler once said, “Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.” Well, now we have meat raffles.
While believed to have originated in Britain during World War II, and although common across Australia, New Zealand, and western Canada, meat raffles feel quintessentially Midwestern—particularly popular in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Considerable international variations notwithstanding (New Zealand’s meat trays, Australia’s chicken raffles, Canada’s “Porketta Bingo”), the idea is that people gather in a place, buy tickets to benefit a local cause, and some form of meat is raffled off.
The oldest reference to meat raffles in Minnesota was at a 4-H fundraiser mentioned in the Albert Lea Tribune on July 7, 1978, according to Allison Ortiz, head of communications for the Minnesota Historical Society. “They really took off in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the mid- to late-1980s,” she explains.
The meat raffles of today usually take place at a bar—typically working-class, neighborhood joints where patrons are more likely to order a Hamm’s than a boozy fusion of, say, fig piloncillo and lemon cologne. Though, to be fair, those ingredients were pulled from the menu of Butcher & The Boar’s Char Bar, which holds its own meat raffle on Sunday nights; this also means meat raffles have transcended American Legions, VFWs, and the like, and have since permeated trendy cocktail bars.
Meat raffle tickets usually range from $1-5, and each comes with a number. A wheel is spun and, after fanning to a stop, the caller yells out the lucky number. Common prizes include various cuts of steak, ribs, bacon, chicken, sausage, and ground beef, typically supplied by a local butcher shop—like Borchert’s Meat Market in Maplewood, for one, which outfits more than a dozen bars and charitable organizations throughout the Twin Cities metro. Uncommon prizes, offered at spots like Lost Times Tavern in Sauk Rapids, include some kind of seafood.
Courtesy of Fifty Lakes Bar & Bottle Shop
“Since 2015, we’ve seen some meat raffles at local taverns and thought we could do that, only let’s do it better,” says David Borchert, owner of Borchert’s Meat Market. “So, we put together a variety of what we thought we’d like to win. We found ourselves searching for new places as we saw it as steady revenue during winter months.” He notes that meat raffles are very seasonal in sales.
And they’re apparently making a comeback. This could be attributed to our ongoing obsession with nostalgia and younger generations trending toward the analog—or it could simply be that they’re a lot of fun. The first meat raffle I ever personally attended was at the now-closed BJ’s Liquor Lounge in North Minneapolis, which was many things—fun included.
“We believe they’re growing in popularity because of the changes in gambling becoming more widespread,” Borchert says. In Minnesota, meat raffles fall under the category of “charitable gambling,” in which only registered nonprofits can benefit from the proceeds—a few local participants include the Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association, Rogers Lions Club, Hopkins American Legion, and more. “And with the economy so challenging, it’s fun to win a great pack of quality meat,” Borchert adds.
Courtesy of Fifty Lakes Bar & Bottle Shop
For the uninitiated, a few statewide highlights include, but are definitely not limited to: Fifty Lakes Bar & Bottle Shop in Fifty Lakes, which purports to be the oldest in Crow Wing County; The North 40 Tavern in West St. Paul, which claims to be the world’s fastest meat raffle; Crystal VFW Post 494, which scores its prizes from Robbinsdale’s fabled Hackenmueller’s Meat Market; and Bull’s Horn in Minneapolis, which serves up prizes from Everette’s Foods & Meats.
Up north, Bell’s Resort Bar & Grill in Dent has one on Friday evenings, and down south on the Iowa border, Lyle Liquor holds its raffle every Saturday. If you’re looking for an event in your area, head to minnesotabreweries.com to find a comprehensive Meat Raffle Map—clocking in at over 300 to check out.
More Meat Raffles to Explore
The 1029 Bar, Minneapolis
The Cherry Pit Bar & Grill, St. Paul
The Deerstand, Deerwood
Dugarel’s Bar & Grill, Hastings
Lincoln Depot Bar & Grill, St. Cloud
Lucky’s Tavern, Pequot Lakes
Miller’s Corner Bar & Grill, Columbia Heights
Silver Moon Lounge & Steakhouse, Perham
Shakopee Brewhall, Shakopee
Wayzata American Legion, Wayzata
