Palmyra Christian Academy Adds More Local Beef to School Meals

PALMYRA, Mo. � Palmyra Christian Academy is one of the latest Missouri schools to �beef up� school lunches through the Mo Beef Kids program. 

Mo Beef Kids is on a mission to get more beef on school lunch trays while connecting students to beef�s nutrition story and the farm families who raise it�building lifelong beef consumers. 

As a leading beef-producing state, Missouri has a powerful opportunity to connect students with beef raised in  their own communities. From tacos and spaghetti to hamburgers, beef provides 10 essential nutrients� including high-quality protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins�that support growth, brain development, immune  health and energy to fuel the school day. 

Along with locally grown beef, participating schools also receive cafeteria resources, including a poster and  banner highlighting beef�s nutrient profile and connecting the school meal back to Missouri agriculture. Schools also have access to food service resources, and classroom materials that explore beef production, animal care and nutrition�bringing the beef story full circle from farm to lunch tray. 

In a press release, Amanda Crumrine, administrator at Palmyra Christian Academy explained, �Palmyra Christian Academy is incredibly  grateful to the MO BEEF program and the generous Missouri beef producers who have chosen to support our students through this donation. Providing nutritious, high-quality beef to our school not only helps us serve our students well but also gives us an opportunity to teach them regarding the importance of Missouri agriculture and the hard work of the farmers and ranchers in our state. We are truly thankful for this generous gift and the investment it represents in our students and our school community.� 

Local cattle producers and community partners can also play an important role in helping schools put more  beef on the lunch tray. 

�Anytime we get a chance to promote beef to the next generation we take it.� Al Dames, owner of F&T Livestock Market in Palmyra, shared. �MO Beef�s partnership with area cattlemen is unique and valuable to our area community schools. Because of MO Beef, the students at Palmyra Christian Academy will not only have the chance to eat area beef, but also the chance to learn about how valuable the beef protein actually is through the additional education provided; and that�s a win-win.� 

About Mo Beef Kids 

Mo Beef Kids is a program of the Foundation for Food and Farm Connections, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is supported in part by the Missouri Beef Industry Council. Mo Beef Kids works alongside Missouri schools to provide resources, connections and support that help make serving beef on the school lunch tray possible. Learn more by reaching out to luella@beef.school, or at mobeefkids.com(opens in new tab).