Auctioning beef for charity. Suggestions?

[littlecowfl]

We would like to auction off about 40# of beef to support our church festival. We will be slaughtering the steer about a month ahead of time. What would you suggest as a nice package? I was thinking a couple of roasts, some steaks, some ribs and some ground. Any suggestions?

[Dahdo]

They will love receiving that. We have done the same thing for our grandkids school auctions the past couple of years. The amount you are giving is very generous and I think a selection of cuts is a good idea. Since you can't put a basket of frozen meat out, we made a small sign for the table that described our farm and how we raise the beef, and listed the retail value. The winning bidder at our grandson's auction was the principal and she brought her family out to pick up the beef and get a tour of the farm and, of course, meet the herd. Next thing you know we had a class field trip scheduled!

[littlecowfl]

Nice! Thanks for the ideas. I figured 40# could be put in someone's freezer. Any more than that might not fit. What do you think?

[Dahdo]

We just put together a roast, maybe four steaks, and a few pounds of ground beef...no more than 15 lbs. We estimate the value at about $10/lb, which is what good, pastured, grass-fed and finished beef goes for here.

[littlecowfl]

That sounds like a nice package. Thank you.

[littlecowfl]

Perhaps I should do 30# and estimate the worth at $300? Would the average person be able to fit 40# in their freezer, or should I go with 30#?

[zephyrhillsusan]

Depending on the freezer, say if they only have one attached to their fridge, I think Dave's 15 lbs. might be an easier number to handle. What if you make two or three 15 lb. packages? Or two 20 lbs? That way the same people could bid on more than one if they want it, but it would also allow for people who don't own separate chest freezers to bid. You might spread the joy around a bit more. That's a lovely idea.

[littlecowfl]

I really like that idea, Susan. Thank you. I'll ask at my parish office this week.

-Alicia

[thegoodag]

what I have done the last two years is beef with a little chest freezer ($168.00 at Lowe's / Home Depot). One time it was 1/2 steer and last year it was 100# of burger plus Freezer. Both times the package went for about $1,500

[littlecowfl]

Oh, that's a good idea. I'll mention it for next year.

The parish decided on two 20# packages. I dropped the steer off and the new butcher was very informative. He gave me advice as to cuts of beef that are popular in our area so we can put together a nice variety. Also, he asked to put together a new kind of steak for us. It's called a chuck eye steak. He says he'll put three to a package. They make little steaks, but he said really tender and nice. Anyone tried it?

[kansasdexters]

littlecowfl,

The chuck eye steak is also known as "mock tenderloin" steak. For people that don't want chuck roasts, we usually have our processor cut the chuck into flat iron steaks, ranch steaks, and mock tenderloin steaks. Then the remaining chuck is ground beef or stew meat.


Patti

[littlecowfl]

Oh, I have seen mock tenderloin in the stores, but our grocery always slaps bacon over it so you can't see the meat well enough. We said we didn't like chuck steaks, so that's why the butcher offered that cut. I am looking forward to trying it.

[kozzy]

The big preference at the FFA auction here is sausage. The area tends to have a bit of a subculture of "sausage wars" so they tend to sell well---usually. Beef is great, obviously, but just mentioning the sausage issue because that's what I have experience with at charity auction.

The VERY VERY VERY [Did I remember to say VERY?] important thing is to make it perfectly clear regarding what is being auctioned and how much: I bid on a poorly marked sausage lot that was about 10 lbs as laid out...$ 50 bucks IIRC which was a significant raise over the next bidder: Not a lot of interest in the lot. Turned out that due to poor displaying the lot was more like 60 lbs of pork, antelope, elk, deer, emu and several other exotics. They had put most in the reefer and no one could see what they were actually bidding on and what they did put out to display wasn't the "good" stuff..just the usual.

I donated more cash when I found out what the lot actually was (we're big FFA donors anyway) but the whole point of this drawn-out and boring story is to MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE that the bidders can see what they are actually bidding on and understand just how good a lot it really is. Sometimes those doing set up are overwhelmed so details of auction lots are not clear to the bidders...and that results in lower bids than should be had.

[littlecowfl]

Hmm, I was just going to have the details of the cuts of meat and weights for the auctioneer (our priest, LOL!) to describe. Would you suggest a picture of the beef as well? It will either be stored in the freezer at the parish or privately until after the auction. It will be too hot to have it there. Plus, it's during a festival with rides and games to play, so we don't want to make the person go home right after buying their beef.

[kozzy]

More info = better and a picture tells a thousand words.

The old sales adage is to "sell the sizzle, not the steak" and in this case, it may actually not be a metaphor. Be sure the auctioneer sells up the "perfect for a summer BBQ with friends...gourmet (buzzword) steak that'll make the friends who weren't invited insanely jealous"

Money for the charity is all about the marketing..otherwise people are just looking for bargains.