RANCHERS FEEDING KIDS
Extension Education
Anna-Marie Chamberlain
Malheur County Extension Agent
Oregon State University
Ontario
Abstract
School Districts in Malheur County, Oregon are facing multiple challenges to balance budgets while at the same time abiding by state and federal laws to provide safe and healthy meals to students through the school lunch program. The local Cattlemen’s Association, understanding the challenges of the Jordan Valley School District, decided to implement a cattle drive to provide beef for the school district. The drive recruits ranches to donate cull cattle for the purpose of being harvested, processed and prepared for use in the schools’ lunch program. To kick off the program, Oregon State University Extension and various partners coordinated a community wide educational event for students, parents and community members. Educational sessions included: viewing an educational DVD about the importance of ranching in Oregon, food safety, beef industry skills such as feed identification, meat grading and evaluation, plants and their use for livestock, and creating healthy meals according to the Food Guide Pyramid. During lunch, an overview of the project was presented and local ranchers were recognized for their contributions. There were over one-hundred participants and all reported an increase in knowledge. To date the school has received donations of 7 head of cattle which had an approximate value of $4,200. Partners involved in this project included: Oregon State University Extension Malheur County 4-H and Livestock, Oregon State University Food and Nutrition Program, University of Idaho Extension Owyhee County, Southwest Regional Food Bank, Malheur County Cattlemen’s Association and Jordan Valley School District #3.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
Click to view Poster
Authors: *A. Chamberlain
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Chamberlain, *. Livestock and Rangeland Agent, Oregon State Univeristy- Malheur County Extension, Oregon, 97914