The Wayne County Farm Bureau (WCFB) has received a $5,000 grant from the Wayne Area Legacy Fund (WALF) to support its ongoing “Beef in Our Schools” project—an initiative aimed at providing locally raised beef in the county’s school lunch program.
Now in its fifth year, the “Beef in Schools” project bridges the gap between local farmers and students by sourcing beef from area producers and processing it locally for school meals. The WALF grant will help offset the higher cost of local beef.
“Thanks to this generous support from WALF, we can continue to bring nutritious, locally sourced beef into our schools,” said a representative of the Wayne County Farm Bureau, Emily Eilers. “This funding helps us meet rising costs while supporting local agriculture and delivering high-quality food to our students.”
Each year, Wayne County schools serve approximately 38,340 meals. To meet this demand, the program requires 17 animals annually, with processing costs of $750 per animal. The new funding will directly contribute to covering these expenses and ensuring the program’s sustainability.
The “Beef in Our Schools” project is a testament to the power of local partnerships in promoting healthy eating, agricultural education, and economic support for local farmers.
The Wayne County Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization that supports agricultural education, local farming initiatives and advocacy for farmers and rural communities.
WALF supports the Wayne area with a mission to make it a great place to live, work and play! To learn more visit www.waynearealegacyfund.org.
