Baldwin, a steer raised by Harley Coburn of Durkee, was auctioned at halftime of the East-West Shrine All-Star football game on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022, raising about $21,000 for the Shriners Hospital for Children in Portland.

BAKER CITY — This year marks 50 years of players battling it out on the football field, 50 years of steak breakfasts in the park, and 50 steers sold to raise money for the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Portland.

This year’s East-West Shrine All-Star football game is set for Saturday, July 29. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Baker Bulldog Memorial Stadium.

The game was moved from Pendleton to Baker City 50 years ago, after the Shriners raised money to build bleachers on the east side of the football stadium.

Over the last 71 years, the game has raised $2,940,000 for the Portland hospital, and the cafeteria features a wall of photographs with scenes from the Baker City event.

While the football game may be the main event, there are plenty of activities this week that all support the cause.

Community barbecue

On Thursday, July 27, the players, cheerleaders, queens and co-captains will be in Baker City to visit Baker Heritage Museum and tour downtown, where businesses decorate windows in honor of the players. Then, at 5 p.m., a community tri-tip barbecue begins in Geiser-Pollman Park. The cost is $25 per person, and everyone is invited to attend.

The steer

Fifty years ago, when the Shrine game was moving to Baker City, an idea surfaced at a meeting of the Baker County Livestock Association to buy a steer at the junior show and donate it to the game.

After some discussion, the idea gained merit, said Myron Miles, a Shriner and member of the BCLA.

But there was a catch — at that time, the junior show was in early August, and the game wasn’t until the end of August.

“Someone stuck his hand up — ‘I’ll take care of him.’ That was me,” Miles said.

A tradition began of buying a steer at the livestock auction, then Miles kept the animal on his ranch at North Powder in the weeks between the fair and the game. Then, the plan switched to have the animal’s owner take it home.

“Then the game moved ahead of the fair,” Miles said.

The reason, he said, is that college football starts in early August and involves some of the Shrine players. Rather than have the players choose, the Shriners decided to change the date of the game.

However, that presented a challenge with the Shrine steer. Now, a committee receives recommendations and interviews the 4-H’er or FFA member, plus the family. And the steer.

“That’s the most important,” Miles said. “We gotta have a steer that will cooperate.”

The steer receives visits at the Gridiron Tailgate in the park, rides a float in the parade, and appears at the Shrine game for the auction.

After a selection is made, the steer is purchased by the Baker County Cattlewomen and Baker County Livestock Association and auctioned during halftime of the Shrine game — often donated back to be sold multiple times.

The Shrine steers have raised about $650,000 for the hospital.

“It’s one of the real win-win things I’m involved in,” Miles said.

This year’s Shrine steer is owned by Dallee Bingham, a 2023 graduate of Powder Valley High School.

Although the Shrine steer won’t participate in the fair’s livestock auction, Bingham can still show the animal at the Baker County Fair.

Gridiron Tailgate and Grill

The two groups have also cooked a steak breakfast for the community on the morning of every Shrine game, and eight years ago started the Gridiron Tailgate and Grill for a day of events that lead up to the game, and also raises money to purchase the next year’s steer.

The Gridiron Tailgate runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, in Geiser-Pollman Park featuring vendors, a silent auction, and live auction of footballs at 1 p.m. Visitors can also meet this year’s Shrine steer.

The steak and pancake breakfast is 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost is $10, or $7 without the steak.

The Hoofin’ It to Beef Fit fun run/walk takes off at 8 a.m. Entry is $25 for the 5K or $35 for the 10K. Sign up early at binghambeef.com/hoofinitrace or contact Wendy Bingham at 208-850-3803.

Lunch begins at noon. Cost is $8 for a single burger, $10 for a double, or $7 for a hot dog. The meal includes chips, veggies, cookies and water — cheese and fried onions are optional.

The parade

Shrine Saturday wouldn’t be complete without the annual parade, which always includes local floats as well as Shrine clubs from around the region.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. Entries line up at 10 a.m. at Baker Middle School, and the route is east on Broadway to Second Street, south on Second to Valley Avenue, east on Valley to Main Street, then north on Main to the finish.

The game

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. at Bulldog Memorial Stadium, and the game starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for reserved seats, or $12 for general admission. Purchase tickets at the game, or ahead of time at the Gridiron Tailgate in the park.

Queens

Kiara Caldwell, west queen, Milwaukee

Jorie Emmert, east queen, Silverton

Co-captains

Isaac Tinkle, east, Portland

Matthias Leonard, west, Corvallis