CENTRALIA, Mo. — Local cattle producers are helping put more Missouri-raised beef on school lunch trays as the Centralia R-6 School District expands its partnership with area farm families.
The district has doubled the amount of beef served in its school meals through work with Savannah’s Farm Fresh, other local producers and MO Beef Kids, a program associated with the Foundation for Food and Farm Connections.
The effort connects students with nearby livestock operations while increasing access to beef in school cafeterias. Participating producers can contribute cattle or beef, while other supporters provide financial donations to help sustain the program.
Savannah’s Farm Fresh in Centralia is among the local operations providing beef for the district’s meals.
The school district also uses cafeteria posters to identify the farms supplying the beef. The materials help students learn where their meals originate and about the nutritional value of beef.
The district features locally sourced beef in its lunch program, giving students a connection to food produced in their own community.
Centralia FFA coordinates financial contributions to the program, connecting agricultural education with the district’s food service efforts.
Beef provides protein, iron, zinc and several B vitamins. Supporters of MO Beef Kids say the initiative combines nutrition with agricultural education and stronger connections between schools and livestock producers.
The program illustrates one way Missouri cattle operations can work directly with school districts to strengthen local food connections.
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