What do tires and Free Beef have in common?

COEUR d'ALENE - Where's the beef? It's at Les Schwab Tire Centers.

And it's free.

Les Schwab Tire Centers announced the awards for its Free Beef promotion that has a 49-year tradition throughout the West.

In North Idaho, Les Schwab Tire Centers awarded 20 winners with a choice of $500 worth of free beef or the cash equivalent.

"This program enables every store manager to show customers how much we appreciate their business," said Brian Capp, vice president for marketing at Les Schwab Tire Centers. "In the tire industry Les Schwab has a reputation for doing things that set us apart from other companies and customers tell us that this promotion is both fun and memorable."

The Free Beef program started in 1964 as a way to thank customers in small and rural farming and ranching communities where the company had its first stores. As Les Schwab's retail network grew, the promotion expanded.

This week, managers drew entry forms for awards to 1,500 lucky customers representing $750,000 in Free Beef and cash prizes.

North Idaho winners were:

Marion Ament, Spirit Lake; Donavon McKern, Cd'A; Kevin Bitton, Priest River; Donald McPeak, Osburn; Nancy Huett, Athol; Diane Howell, Post Falls; Brendan McGinley, Cd'A; Megan Connolly, Sandpoint; Bob Lyon, Sandpoint; Phil Dinning, Bonners Ferry; Zebulun Brown, Cd'A; Stasha Kaler, Usk; Donavan McKern, Cd'A; Sharon Alexander, Cd'A; Stanton McDaniel, Pinehurst; Andrea Navarrette, Cd'A; Terri McPhrarson, Sandpoint; Tony Kacalek, Post Falls; Jenny Legg, Cd'A; Peg Michaelsen, Cd'A.