Meat raffle

A meat raffle is a Minnesotan tradition of raffling off meat, often in bars.

Typically the raffle is operated by a designated charity. The meat ranges in animal and cut and often comes from local butchers.

A typical meat raffle would have approximately 25-30 tickets sold at $1 each. Depending on the specific raffle, when a winning number is called the winner can either pick their cut of meat or opt for a gift certificate. All proceeds typically go to a charity.

Also simply known as a meat tray, the tradition in well known in Australian pubs. The trays of meat raffled vary in content: a BBQ- style mix of steaks, lamb chops, sausages etc is the most common, however "breakfast trays" (bacon, eggs, sausages) and "seafood trays" (prawns, oysters, mussels) are also common. Meat trays are usually raffled to raise money for local sporting teams, often those associated with the particular pub the raffle occurs in. The proceeds often help fund the team's end of season trip. Care must be taken with seafood trays given the propensity for the contents to spoil in the heat as the lucky winner continues drinking; often a friendly publican will store the tray in the fridge until the winner is sufficiently refreshed and ready to head home.

External links

• Pioneer Press article
• Humorous NYTimes article
• The Meat Raffle Probability Calculator
• Meat Raffles & the Minnesota Gambling Control Board