Connecting Beef to NY Classrooms
"These efforts help position beef as a valuable part of school meal programs, support long-term demand, and strengthen relationships across the food system."
Utica, NY (April 2026)– The New York Beef Council (NYBC) recently participated in the 2026 Farm to School Summit, which brought together 456 attendees from across the state, including school food authorities, educators, producers, and food system partners. NYBC facilitated a workshop titled “Beef from the Ground Up: Sourcing Strategies and Success Stories for NY Schools,” engaging 32 participants in a dynamic panel discussion featuring three experts representing school nutrition leadership, foodservice operations, and beef processing.
The session provided real-world insights into sourcing, menu development, and supply chain collaboration, highlighting practical approaches to integrating beef into school meal programs. Attendees actively engaged in discussion, sharing challenges and opportunities as they explored actionable solutions. NYBC also shared resources designed to support school foodservice professionals, including recipes, a resource guide, and educational materials. Participation in the Summit created valuable opportunities to strengthen relationships and identify future collaborations that support New York’s farm-to-school efforts.
Earlier in the fall, as students and educators returned to the classroom, NYBC partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY Farm to School, working with Farm to School Education Specialist Kate Preston, to create and organize the “Beef Up School Lunch” promotion. This statewide initiative engaged 68 classrooms and reached 4,925 students across New York, introducing them to beef as a nutritious and flavorful component of school meals.
Participating classrooms received promotional kits featuring student-approved beef recipe cards, educational materials, and classroom resources designed to connect students with nutrition concepts and New York agriculture. The program helped spark excitement around school meals while reinforcing the connection between local farms and the food students eat every day.
Through initiatives such as the Farm to School Summit and the Beef Up School Lunch promotion, NYBC continues to build awareness, provide resources, and foster meaningful connections between New York beef producers and the next generation of consumers. These efforts help position beef as a valuable part of school meal programs, support long-term demand, and strengthen relationships across the food system.
About the New York Beef Council:
The New York Beef Council is funded by the $1-per-head National Beef Checkoff Program. Checkoff dollars are invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information, and foreign market development, all to strengthen beef demand. For more information, visit www.nybeef.org.