Annual Meat Giveaway: a Company Tradition Rooted in Appreciation
A Tradition That Supports Our Employees & Community
In late September, AKS proudly hosted its annual Great Meat Giveaway, a unique tradition that shows appreciation for our employees and support for our communities. This event is more than just handing out food. It’s a way for us to say thank you to our team for their dedication, hard work, and commitment throughout the year. Through the Meat Giveaway, we not only recognize the efforts of our staff but also reinvest in our communities, creating a tradition that reflects our people-first culture.
This year, AKS purchased 16 hogs and 6 steers to distribute across our offices, totaling over 12,000 pounds of meat, which was then distributed to our employees.
The Meat Giveaway Story
Today, the Meat Giveaway is a company-wide tradition, but it didn’t start that way. The idea originated from some of our owners’ ties to rural communities, where their kids raised 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) animals for auction. AKS would purchase those animals and use the meat for our weekly employee lunches, originally known as Burger Wednesdays (read more here about weekly lunches at AKS). After many years, the tradition evolved in 2018, when the company began gifting meat from 4-H purchases to the owners as a way to show appreciation.
The next year, in 2019, leadership expanded the tradition to include all employees, launching what is now known as the Great Meat Giveaway. What began in the Tualatin office quickly spread to our other locations. As the event gained momentum, clients and employees’ children, along with other kids in need of buyers, started sending letters about their animals asking for AKS’ support at auctions. That tradition of giving and community has carried us to where we are today.
Behind the Scenes: How We Prepare for the Meat Giveaway
Although the Meat Giveaway happens each September, preparations begin months earlier at local county fairs, where 4-H and FFA auctions take place. After the budget is set by leadership, AKS staff head to auctions across the region, bidding on animals in the communities where we have offices and projects. This year, we participated in auctions spanning multiple Oregon and Washington counties: Washington, Yamhill, Polk, Deschutes, Clark, and Benton-Franklin.
Once purchased, the animals are sent to processing facilities where the meat is prepared for distribution. Then comes event day, when employee volunteers roll up their sleeves to sort, count, and pack the cuts of meat, making sure every bag is ready for our team to take home.
Community Impact
The greatest community impact of the Meat Giveaway comes from supporting the 4-H and FFA kids whose animals we purchase. The money they earn at the auctions goes right back into their futures: helping to pay for college or trade school, covering certification costs, and funding the purchase of new animals to raise.
Additionally, AKS is proud to support an organization that equips youth with valuable, transferable skills. “I’ve gained valuable experience in responsibility, patience, and problem-solving,” shared one of the kids who wrote to AKS. Another wrote. “I’ve learned so much, such as responsibility, time management, and so much more.”
What the Meat Giveaway Means to Our Team
For the AKS team, the Meat Giveaway is a meaningful gesture of appreciation. Leadership is proud to provide something both practical and special — the means to cook meals employees can enjoy and share with their families and loved ones.
The Meat Giveaway also reflects core AKS values, particularly our focus on culture and relationships. Appreciation events such as the Meat Giveaway reinforce AKS’s strong, connected culture. Equally important is fostering genuine relationships, both with our employees and within our communities, which lies at the heart of what makes AKS a great place to work. Together, these values make the Meat Giveaway more than a tradition. They make it a reflection of who we are as a company and the lasting impact we strive to create for our employees and our communities.