Pennsylvania Beef Council Receives USDA Farm to School Grant to Expand Local Beef Access in Pennsylvania Schools

BEDFORD, Pa., July 13, 2026 – Today, the Pennsylvania Beef Council announced its selection as a Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grantee by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This grant will support the Council’s ongoing work to expand access to local beef in Pennsylvania schools, strengthen farm-to-school supply chains, and provide students with meaningful nutrition and agricultural education.

The funding will build on the success of the Pennsylvania Beef Council’s PA Beef to PA Schools program (PBPS), which connects school districts and foodservice directors with Pennsylvania cattle producers, processors and industry partners to bring high-quality, locally sourced beef to school lunch trays.

“Receiving this Farm to School Grant is an incredible opportunity to continue building meaningful connections between Pennsylvania students, school nutrition professionals and the farmers who raise beef right here in the Commonwealth,” said Nichole Hockenberry, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Beef Council. “When students have access to local beef on their lunch trays, they are not only receiving a nutritious, high-quality protein; they are also gaining a better understanding of where their food comes from and the people behind it. This funding will help us expand access, strengthen partnerships, and provide schools with the tools and support they need to successfully incorporate more local beef into their meal programs. We are grateful for USDA’s investment in farm-to-school efforts and proud to continue advancing this important work for Pennsylvania’s students and agricultural communities.” 

“This year’s grants are a win-win for schools and children, for farmers and real food,” said Deputy Under Secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Patrick A. Penn. “Our Nation’s farmers, ranchers and producers grow the safest, most abundant and affordable food in the world, and now more children will get to experience the benefits of that bounty. USDA is fully committed to supporting healthy choices, healthy families, and healthy outcomes through farm to school, and I can’t wait to see the life-changing impact these new projects will have on communities across America.”

The Pennsylvania Beef Council will use the funding to support key activities that increase the availability and use of local beef in school meals across the state through the PBPS program. These activities include: 

• Expanding relationships between Pennsylvania schools, cattle producers, processors, and distributors to strengthen local beef supply chains.
• Supporting school districts and foodservice teams as they source, prepare, and serve locally raised beef. 
• Providing technical assistance, menu inspiration, and recipe support to help schools incorporate beef into nutritious, student-approved meals.
• Offering educational resources that help students connect school meals to agriculture, nutrition, and the farmers who raise beef.
• Highlighting farm-to-school success stories that demonstrate the impact of local beef procurement on students, schools, and agricultural communities.
• Building awareness of local beef as a high-quality protein option that supports healthy meals and Pennsylvania farm families.

Through this project, the Pennsylvania Beef Council aims to help more schools confidently source and serve local beef while expanding access to nutritious meals that reflect the agricultural strength of their communities.

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program connects farmers to children by incorporating local foods into school meals, summer meals, and child care settings. In school year 2022–23, more than two-thirds of students in America attended schools participating in farm-to-school activities, such as local procurement, agricultural education and gardening, and local food promotion.

Follow the progress of the PA Beef to PA Schools Program by visiting www.pabeef.org and following the Pennsylvania Beef Council on social media.

Learn more about the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program on USDA’s website.

Contact: Nichole Hockenberry

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 814-623-2698

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The Pennsylvania Beef Council is a producer-controlled and funded organization, which administers the Beef Checkoff Program in Pennsylvania. The Beef Checkoff Program assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. Checkoff revenues may be used for promotion, education and research programs to improve the marketing climate for beef.