Hometown Roots, Local Beef: Bridge View Farm Partners with Jersey Shore Area School District

Bowes family brings its passion for agriculture and community to PA Beef to PA Schools program

BEDFORD, Pa. — Oct. 27, 2026 — For Todd and Casey Bowes, the opportunity to provide locally raised beef to Jersey Shore Area School District is more than a business partnership. It's a chance to give back to the community where Todd grew up, where the couple raises their family, and where their children will one day attend school.

The Bowes family, owners of Bridge View Farm in Jersey Shore, recently joined the Pennsylvania Beef Council's PA Beef to PA Schools (PBPS) program, partnering with their hometown school district to bring locally raised beef to student lunch trays.

Todd, a Jersey Shore Area School District graduate and third-generation farmer, has long been passionate about agriculture. While Casey didn't grow up in a farming family, she’s embraced the lifestyle alongside Todd and their two young children, Eli, 5, and Averie, 2.

Together, they've built Bridge View Farm into a growing family beef business rooted in hard work, community connections, and a desire to share their passion for agriculture. The farm takes its name from the distinctive Tiadaghton bridge, a one-way metal bridge near the family's home that has become a recognizable local landmark.

Although the family has been raising beef for their own use for several years, they began offering freezer beef directly to customers in November 2025. What started with a simple Facebook post asking whether anyone was interested in buying local beef quickly grew into something much bigger.

Today, Bridge View Farm raises approximately 150 head of cattle at various stages of growth, purchasing feeder cattle and raising them to market weight. The farm's customer base extends into surrounding communities, but many customers are in the Jersey Shore area.

For Casey, those local relationships have become one of the most rewarding parts of the business. "People want to know where their food comes from, and we love having the opportunity to share what we do and how our beef is raised," said Casey Bowes. "So many of our customers are families right here in our community. Knowing that the same beef they trust to feed their families at home can now be served to their children at school makes this partnership especially meaningful."

The connection to PA Beef to PA Schools came when someone shared information about the program with Casey. She reached out to the Pennsylvania Beef Council and Jersey Shore Area School District to explore a possible partnership.

Both responded enthusiastically, and the relationship quickly took off. Bridge View Farm made its first delivery of locally raised beef to the district in October. The farm will resume deliveries in January, providing approximately 50 pounds of ground beef each month through the remainder of the school year.

Now in its fifth year, PBPS connects schools and food service professionals with cattle producers to provide students with fresh, locally sourced beef. The focus of the program is providing more beef, more often on school lunch trays. The initiative not only supports farmers but also integrates locally grown food into school lunch menus, connecting students to agriculture and their community through the beef industry.

PBPS ensures high-quality beef appears regularly on menus and helps combat food insecurity while meeting students’ nutritional needs. Throughout the school year, participating school districts will procure beef monthly from local producers. The program will serve more than 320,000 students in 2026.

For a family with deep ties to the school district, the opportunity was an especially natural fit. "Jersey Shore is our home. Todd graduated from the district, and our children will attend school here, too," said Bowes. "As a small, family-owned farm, we're incredibly proud to have the opportunity to provide beef to our own schools. It's a chance to support our community while helping students learn more about agriculture and where their food comes from."

Behind the scenes, Bridge View Farm is very much a family effort. Todd manages the cattle and farm operations while balancing a full-time job, with help from his brother, Lee. Casey, a full-time nurse at UPMC Williamsport, handles the farm's marketing, customer communication, and beef orders.

Their children grow up alongside the cattle and the farm’s daily work. Eli especially enjoys helping his dad, while Avery is eager to be wherever the family is working.

Casey also shares glimpses of farm life, family moments, and favorite beef recipes through Bridge View Farm's social media channels. What began as a way to market their beef has grown into an opportunity to help customers connect with the family and understand the work behind the food they purchase.

For the Bowes family, that connection between agriculture and everyday life is at the heart of their participation in PA Beef to PA Schools.

The program connects Pennsylvania beef producers with local schools and other participating meal providers, helping bring more locally raised beef to students while strengthening relationships between farms and their communities.

Through partnerships like Bridge View Farm and Jersey Shore Area School District, students can enjoy Pennsylvania beef while seeing firsthand the role local farm families play in feeding their communities. 

For Todd and Casey, it's a partnership that brings their family's agricultural traditions full circle from the farm they are building today to the schools that will help shape their children's tomorrow.

Photo 1: The Bowes family owns and operates Bridge View Farm in Jersey Shore.

To learn more about PBPS contact Nichole Hockenberry, PA Beef Council Executive Director at [email protected] or 1-888-4BEEFPA.