Record Ribeye Raffle supports local food banks, local youth

Flathead Electric Cooperative’s annual Ribeye Raffle set new records this year, raising $26,756 for local food banks while supporting 4-H and FFA youth at the Northwest Montana Fair.

Now in its 11th year, the Ribeye Raffle sold a record 31,504 tickets, surpassing the program’s previous fundraising record set in 2022. Proceeds were divided among seven local food banks, which also received more than 1,000 pounds of donated meat through the program.

“The Ribeye Raffle is such a great example of our community coming together to support one another,” said Flathead Electric Cooperative Community Relations Manager Katie Pfennigs. “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who purchased tickets. Their participation supports our local 4-H and FFA students while also helping provide important resources to food banks serving families throughout our communities.”

Each year during the Northwest Montana Fair, the Co-op purchases livestock from local youth during the 4-H and FFA Market Sale. Most of the meat is donated directly to local food banks. The premium ribeye steaks are then raffled, generating additional money for those same organizations.

That approach allows the program to make an impact twice: first by supporting local youth who have invested months raising and caring for their livestock, and again by helping food banks provide food to families throughout Northwest Montana.

This year’s raffle winners were Denise VanArtsdale and Barry Church. Each received approximately 60 one-inch-thick ribeye steaks valued at more than $1,100.

Over its 11-year history, the Ribeye Raffle has donated more than $138,000 and 12,000 pounds of meat to area food banks.

“There is something special about seeing money raised right here in the Flathead Valley stay right here to help local families,” said Chris Sidmore, executive director of the Flathead Food Bank.

“The Ribeye Raffle may be a fun event, but its impact is very real, helping food banks throughout our area provide thousands of meals to neighbors who need them. This is what taking care of a community looks like. It is local people finding a creative way to help other local people. Flathead Electric has shown up for us and the families we serve time and again, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued generosity.”

This year’s Ribeye Raffle supported the North Valley Food Bank, Columbia Falls Food Bank, Flathead Food Bank, Bigfork Food Bank, West Shore Food Bank, Libby Food Pantry and Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry.

Flathead Electric Cooperative thanks the thousands of community members who purchased raffle tickets and helped make this year’s record-setting program possible.