Cochranites will be able to place their highest bids in the annual Stockmen's Dinner and Auction on Oct 30.
Similar to last year, the event has moved to an online platform to adhere to pandemic rules.
Stockmen's Memorial Foundation executive director Scott Grattidge revealed a take-home hot prime rib dinner is on the menu for the evening, prepared by Patsy's Place.
"Pat Parker is smoking the prime rib," said Grattidge. "It will be a meal with all the fixings. She makes the best prime rib beef of anyone I know. It is mouth watering with famous horseradish, she is a fantastic cook."
Cowboys and cowgirls can pick up their hot to-go meal at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre on Saturday, Oct. 30 between 5 and 6:30 p.m., then gallop home to begin the bidding wars. A paper catalogue listing all auction items will also be distributed to those picking up a meal. Bidding will open on Oct. 25 right up until Oct.30 at 7:30 p.m. The online auction can be joined at www.stockmen.ca.
Grattidge explains given the circumstances the foundation has had to swivel on a whim. Although the true spirit of a live auction can not be totally felt online, there is still a sense of excitement involved with the opportunity for families of different generations to come together in the comfort of their own homes.
"Every rancher loves a good auction," said Grattidge. "Even though it's online they still figure out a way to enjoy it and try and figure out who the different user ID's are and bid up some people if they think they know who it is."
Grattidge added the advantage of having an online auction is that it allows individuals outside of Cochrane and surrounding area the chance to get it on the fun.
"Last year, some of our top items went down to southern Alberta where they maybe wouldn't have driven all this way to come for the meal and the silent and live auction, but with the online auction they can still support the Stockmen's," he said.
In the past, the in-person auction saw some items reaching upwards of $10,000 as opposed to $4,000 with the online auction. When COVID eventually passes and people can get back to meeting in person, Grattidge said he would like to see a hybrid scenario for the auction.
"There is something about 'quarter half seventy-five one one and a quarter one and a half one seventy-five two,' a live auction that people will bid more and people will enjoy that entertainment," he said in his best auctioneer voice.
The auction items will be on display at Stockmen's Memorial Foundation throughout the duration of next week and have been generously donated by local retailers. There are also handmade, custom-made, or one-off artifacts from its members. There are over 100 items to bid on.
"It could be a set of tack from a Uruguayan gaucho, a ball rawhide handmade tack, or it could even be a couple loads of gravel for your driveway if you're out in the country," explained Grattidge.
All proceeds from the auction will go toward Stockmen's expenses which Grattidge said helps with a number of things including preserving its rich western heritage.
The hot to-go prime rib dinner will cost $35 a plate and will need to be ordered by Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. To reserve your meal you can call Stockmen's at 403-932-3782 or email [email protected]
