Co-op's Ribeye Raffle facilitates food bank donations

Flathead Electric Cooperative’s 2023 Ribeye Raffle raised $18,194 in cash and resulted in approximately 1,000 pounds of meat for donation to the food banks.

As part of its commitment to the community members who own the cooperative, Flathead Electric purchases beef, lamb, and hogs each year during the 4-H and FFA Market Sale at the Northwest Montana Fair and at the Lincoln County Fair. The meat goes to the food banks, except for the prime steak cuts, which are raffled off.

This year, the co-op purchased beef from Naomi Becker and Brady Boll; lambs from Emmalynn Braaten and Amber Jones; and hogs from Rhett Hadley and Corissa Cernick.

Raffle winners were announced on Aug. 22. Ron and Marilyn Miller and Chris Ruby, all of Kalispell, will each receive approximately 60 one-inch-thick premium Montana t-bone and ribeye steaks, valued at well over $500.

Will Tutvedt, the co-op’s community outreach specialist and Ribeye Raffle organizer, is thrilled with the results of this year’s raffle.

“Our members are so generous, and as a cooperative, we’re happy to be able to organize this effort and give to our community food banks in such a meaningful way — plus, it’s really fun to meet all the 4-H and FFA kids and bid on their incredible animals at the two fairs,” he said.

Over the last eight years, Ribeye Raffle has raised $70,580 in cash and donated approximately 7,000 pounds of meat to the Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Bigfork, Lakeside, Libby, and Veterans food banks.