Montana Beef for Montana Kids
With more cattle than people in Montana, you’d think Montana beef would be on every school meal tray in the state, right? “Getting Montana beef to Montana kids just makes sense. We have more cattle than people in this state. When food doesn’t have to travel far, it’s fresher, higher quality, and something we can all take pride in growing, serving, and eating,” shared Lisa Lee, Co-Executive Director of The Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger (MT-PECH). We’re on a mission to do just that and more.
Through the statewide 33 x 33 for Montana Initiative, MT-PECH has taken on the goal of helping ensure that 33% of the food Montana kids eat in school comes from Montana by 2033. The overall Initiative is designed to increase the amount of Montana food eaten here from 3% today to 33% by 2033. Through collaboration, innovation, and redevelopment of Montana’s food system, MT-PECH is working with partners in communities across the state and directly with schools to ensure that by 2033, every school meal includes healthy, quality, fresh foods grown and sourced in Montana.
Chaley Harney, a mother of two children in Shepherd, MT, is one individual who has led the way by working collaboratively and strategically to get beef into her son’s elementary school. As Executive Director of the Montana Beef Council, she’d seen other communities successfully get beef into schools. Using resources from her work and partners like MT-PECH and The Producer Partnership, she made Montana beef in her son’s school a reality. Chaley shared, “I visited with the superintendent and then the school board. They loved the idea! There’s been a lot of community goodwill towards the project.”
During her outreach efforts, Chaley communicated important statistics about why kids need quality, healthy, and fresh food, such as beef.
From ages 10-19, a child gains 15-20% of their final adult height and 40-50% of their final adult weight and bone mass. School meals play an influential and arguably critical role in establishing healthy eating patterns and reducing the risk of chronic disease. There is no other source of protein that offers a mix of essential nutrients or compares in value to eating beef. She laughed and shared, “Eating beef can’t hurt academic performance either!”
This year, the school in Shepherd has had a regular supply of local beef from 10 animals donated by Montana ranchers and beef producers. This beef creates huge savings for the school and frees up funds so the school can spend money on more nutritious foods and create beautiful, healthy lunch plates for their students. The Producer Partnership in Livingston, Montana, covers the processing. Chaley then delivers the beef to the school. Chaley said the whole Shepherd community has been “very excited and wants to see and do more!”
For example, Chaley cites a call she received from a woman whose grandkids attend the same school. Since she didn’t have animals to donate, the woman decided to give monetary support to create a healthy snack program. Once a week for the rest of the school year, all elementary-aged kids get a cheese stick and a beef stick as an afternoon snack.
Not all schools receive donations of animals. Many schools are purchasing beef. Either way, beef ranchers and producers understand that getting their beef into schools creates future consumers for years to come. As Lisa noted, “knowing where our food comes from is the foundation of healthy schools and healthy communities. When we start caring about what we put on our plates, we value food differently, and that shift can transform our health. Ultimately, this is about more than beef— it’s about building a healthier future for all Montanans. Beef is a great place to start.”
Find out more about MT-PECH, The Montana Beef Council, The Producer Partnership, and the 33×33 For Montana Initiative by visiting these links.
Written by:
MORGAN MARKS