{"id":8418,"date":"2026-04-14T21:09:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T04:09:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/news\/7615161\/hot-dogs-and-steaks-and-bacon-oh-my-meat-raffles-keep-a-beloved-midwest-tradition-alive\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T04:30:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T11:30:02","slug":"hot-dogs-and-steaks-and-bacon-oh-my-meat-raffles-keep-a-beloved-midwest-tradition-alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwine\/news\/8418\/hot-dogs-and-steaks-and-bacon-oh-my-meat-raffles-keep-a-beloved-midwest-tradition-alive\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot dogs and steaks and bacon, oh my! Meat raffles keep a beloved Midwest tradition alive"},"content":{"rendered":"

WACONIA, Minn. (AP) \u2014 In these polarizing times, Minnesotans have found something they can agree on \u2014 the thrill of a meat raffle.<\/p>\n

Meat raffles have been popular in pockets of the U.S. for decades, offering a fun way to raise money for charities while handing out prizes ranging from ground beef and hot dogs to chicken breasts and steaks. But while inflation has surged and meat prices have soared<\/a>, Minnesota’s $70 per-event prize limit hasn’t changed in nearly 40 years. <\/p>\n

The deeply divided Minnesota Legislature hasn’t been able to agree on much this year, but it’s almost a sure bet to respond by upping the cap to $200. That will allow charities to offer more and bigger grill packs, and thicker, fancier steaks, while funding local youth sports teams and other causes. And it will ensure that the state\u2019s beloved if quirky tradition of gambling for meat products will remain viable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is probably the best feel-good bill that we have going on in the Legislature right now,\u201d said Republican Rep. Jim Nash, lead House author of the meat raffle legislation.<\/p>\n

Even with the lower prize limit, Andrea \u201cMama\u201d Avaloz scored with a $2 bet. Game organizers spun a wheel and landed on her number 5, making her a winner of the American Legion Post 150 in the lakeside town of Waconia, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Minneapolis.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I have a little fajita meat. We are set to go!\u201d Avaloz said as she picked up her plastic-wrapped prize. \u201cBeef sticks! Love them!\u201d<\/p>\n

Moments later she realized there was a surprise hidden beneath her beef and sausages.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my God, I have pork chops!\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cI picked a good one! I\u2019m so excited!\u201d<\/p>\n

Meat raffles originated during World War II as a response to wartime rationing in the United Kingdom. They spread to Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and eventually migrated to Minnesota, Wisconsin, western New York and a few other states.<\/p>\n

Nash, who represents Waconia, said he expects a vote in the House next week to expand the prize cap and approval soon after in the Senate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for bipartisanship,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to do good things.\u201d<\/p>\n

The service organizations that run meat raffles and other charitable gambling in Minnesota put the proceeds back into their communities. The bars and restaurants that host them benefit from bigger crowds that buy more burgers and beer. <\/p>\n

Joe Gifford, commander of Post 150, which was founded in 1920, said those sales mean even more money to support Legion baseball and softball teams, and to maintain veterans’ monuments.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery dollar we raise here, after we pay our bills, actually goes right back into all those different services for community, veterans, and active duty military,\u201d Gifford said. \u201cAnd the meat raffle is a part of that. It\u2019s one of the instruments where we actually draw crowds in on a Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Minneapolis, meat raffles are held each Friday night in the 1029 Bar, a spot often patronized by police officers. Behind the bar there’s a squad car door hanging that’s riddled with bullet holes.<\/p>\n

Roberta Rodriguez, site manager for the Northeast Minneapolis Lions Club, runs the charitable gambling operation at the bar, which like Post 150 also includes other games, like bingo and pull-tabs. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot customers that come every week,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cSo they get to know each other, they tease each other when someone wins too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ashley Burris hadn’t heard of meat raffles until she moved to Minnesota from Virginia. Now she seeks out bars that offer them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kinda my vibe,\u201d she said during a break in the action. <\/p>\n

Burris said she hadn’t heard of the legislation \u2014 or the idea that prizes might be too small. She was focused more on the fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s never crossed my mind \u2014 although you can never have too much rib-eye,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\n \"|\"
Packages of meat are offered as prizes for a weekly meat raffle April 10, 2026, at American Legion Post 150 in Waconia, Minn. (AP Photo\/Steve Karnowski)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
Volunteer John Sartwell announces the winning numbers during a meat raffle April 10, 2026, at American Legion Post 150 in Waconia, Minn. (AP Photo\/Steve Karnowski)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
In this image made from video, Ashley Burris holds up a pack of bacon she won during a meat raffle at the 1029 Bar in Minneapolis, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo\/Mark Vancleave)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
Minnesota state Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia, right, buys tickets for the weekly meat raffle April 10, 2026, at American Legion Post 150 in Waconia, Minn. (AP Photo\/Steve Karnowski)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WACONIA, Minn. (AP) \u2014 In these polarizing times, Minnesotans have found something they can agree on \u2014 the thrill of a meat raffle. Meat raffles have been popular in pockets of the U.S. for decades, offering a fun way to raise money for charities while handing out prizes ranging from ground beef and hot dogs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":521,"featured_media":8419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"guid":"d48c177a-e375-4b34-afee-da8dc25ba00f","source":"The Associated Press","byline":"Steve Karnowski And Mark Vancleave","published":"2026-04-14 21:09:44","updated":"2026-04-15 04:27:23","_infotelid":"","_prepressid":"","_multisite_post_sync":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1815,1814],"tags":[],"region":[1813,1816],"class_list":["post-8418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","category-world","region-canada","region-world"],"blocksy_meta":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwine\/news\/8418\/hot-dogs-and-steaks-and-bacon-oh-my-meat-raffles-keep-a-beloved-midwest-tradition-alive\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Hot dogs and steaks and bacon, oh my! Meat raffles keep a beloved Midwest tradition alive","url":"http:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwine\/news\/8418\/hot-dogs-and-steaks-and-bacon-oh-my-meat-raffles-keep-a-beloved-midwest-tradition-alive\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwine\/news\/8418\/hot-dogs-and-steaks-and-bacon-oh-my-meat-raffles-keep-a-beloved-midwest-tradition-alive\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/inwine-4dae236703a0ee7a0954a54a2aae28bd9850331b2993da5cd54c73a4500fced0.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/inwine-4dae236703a0ee7a0954a54a2aae28bd9850331b2993da5cd54c73a4500fced0.jpg"},"articleSection":"International","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"The Associated Press"}],"creator":["The Associated Press"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"iNwine","logo":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/logo-inwine.png"},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2026-04-15T04:09:44Z","datePublished":"2026-04-15T04:09:44Z","dateModified":"2026-04-15T11:30:02Z"},"rendered":"