The Beef Pit is popular at the State Fair, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – The Nebraska Cattlemen’s Beef Pit is a popular meal destination at the Nebraska State Fair.
Matthew Melchor of Lincoln is Director of the Beef Pit and is also Director of Government Affairs for the organization, which has 4,200 members.
“We have been doing this since 1984,” Melchor said about the Beef Pit.
“The money we make goes back to research and education,” he said.
Approximately 350 people volunteer to prepare and serve the food.
“We served 16,500 sandwiches at last year’s State Fair,” he said.
“This year, we’re hoping to reach 600,000 meals served since 1984,” he said. He wants to thank the numerous volunteers who have spent time at the Beef Pit over the years.
The Beef Pit has a variety of meal choices on its menu. A prime rib sandwich, two sides, and one drink costs $15. A roast beef sandwich or BBQ beef sandwich plus two sides and a drink costs $14. People can also order just sandwiches.
A prime rib sandwich costs $10. A roast beef sandwich or BBQ beef sandwich costs $9. A jumbo all-beef hotdog costs $5.
The Beef Pit is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
This is an example of a meal at the Beef Pit: roast beef sandwich, corn, coleslaw, and drink, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
Volunteers work in the kitchen at the Beef Pit, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)