School districts and early care and education programs are highlighting beef in January as part of the Harvest of the Month Program, a statewide initiative that celebrates one Kansas-grown or -raised product each month to encourage local foods in child nutrition programs. As January’s featured food, beef is being showcased through a variety of recipes, agricultural education lessons for preschool through 12th grade, and promotional materials including posters, stickers, static clings, newsletters and more. Many of the educational resources being used in the classroom are supported by beef checkoff materials, helping students better understand beef’s nutritional value and its connection to Kansas agriculture.
The USDA Local Foods for Schools grant, administered between 2023 and 2024, helped spark increased interest in serving beef by providing funding for schools to purchase meat sourced in Kansas or within 400 miles of the school site. During the grant period, districts purchased beef from 211 Kansas ranchers, strengthening connections between schools and local agriculture.
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