Examining, Optimizing, and Building Capacity for Montana’s Local Beef to School Supply Chain

November 2016 – January 2017 A blog was posted about case study publication and general project updates. Media continued to highlight the case study publication, including national sources such as the USDA and National Farm to School Network. Based upon case study findings, the research team began to (1) collect data and conduct secondary data analysis about cattle production and processing and (2) plan study about local beef utilization in schools research. The research team pilot tested the larger beef to school primary evaluation tool with stakeholders and revised based upon feedback. The Beef to School Project presented a webinar for the Montana Farm to School Leadership Team.

August – October 2016 The case study, “Moooooving Forward Together: Strategies for Montana Beef to School” was finalized and published. The case study is a total of 39 graphically designed pages and includes: a cover page; acknowledgements; table of contents; overview of beef to school in Montana; school, processor, and producer needs; an infographic of the beef lifecycle; an infographic of common beef to school partnerships; demographics of Montana schools, producers, and processors; challenges and opportunities for beef to school in Montana; six comprehensive case studies; vocabulary; references and resources; cuts of beef infographic. The case study received several press requests and generated many technical assistance calls from producers, processors, and schools in Montana and around the country. The Beef to School Project presented initial case study findings at the Conference on Food Studies. Additionally, a Beef to School Coalition conference call was held with 15 in attendance to discuss the primary evaluation tool, receive case study input before finalization, and plan the release of the case study report. We developed a Beef to School Project website as a sub-page of the Montana Farm to School website. This website provides a central place to store materials, provide updates, and provide project contacts. The Montana Harvest of the Month publication featuring beef was finalized and released for use by Montana Schools.

May – July 2016 During the summer of 2016, the research team largely focused on analyzing case study data and writing findings. Based upon case study findings, the research team began to develop the larger beef to school primary evaluation tool to be completed by processors and producers. The research team agreed that two tools needed to be designed due to the differing roles of each stakeholder in the process. The processor tool was drafted during this quarter. The Beef to School Project presented a poster and networked at the 2016 National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.

February – April 2016 The Beef to School Project conducted and transcribed four more comprehensive case studies of beef to school systems in Montana, totaling six comprehensive case studies since the beginning of the grant. The research team originally planned to conduct five case studies, but added one more in order to highlight an additional beef to school model. The Beef to School Coalition met in March 2016 in Livingston, Montana to discuss opportunities and challenges for procurement of Montana beef in every Montana school. With 19 people in attendance at the meeting, the Coalition also evaluated year 1 of the Western SARE grant and discussed strategic directions for the Beef to School Project in the coming year. A blog was posted that focused on the in-person meeting outcomes so that those not able to attend could read a full update. The Montana Harvest of the Month publication featuring beef was piloted by Montana Schools.

August 2015 – January 2016 The research team conducted outreach to 50 targeted associations, groups, and individuals representing producers, processors, and school administration and food service. Facebook and Twitter posts continued once per week. Two blog posts were published (October and January), both highlighting preliminary results from case studies with schools, producers, and processors. The project team developed an outreach handout to provide preliminary information about beef to school to those that inquire. Additionally, we are working to realize a podcast episode about beef to school in Montana. Five case study procurement models were chosen for local beef in school. Two comprehensive case studies of beef to school systems were completed, with transcriptions currently in process for completion ahead of schedule. The three remaining comprehensive case studies are planned for completion by April 2016. Two changes in our research team structure occurred: (1) two of our school food service directors accepted other employment opportunities and their successors committed to supporting our research team, (2) project manager Lacy Stephens accepted other employment and Janet Gamble joined our research team. Carmen Byker Shanks was invited to speak at the Florida Farm to School conference in October specifically about the topic of beef to school. The Florida Department of Agriculture is now interested in growing their beef to school in their state, with assistance from our team on design of the program. This partnership will be really important for understanding beef to school programs at various scales. A statewide survey is in development phases for formal testing and research during late summer 2016. Procedures for understanding consumer preferences towards local versus non-local beef are in planning phases and methods may be switched from plate waste to taste test using Nutrislice software for better feedback. Montana Beef to School partnered with Dayle Hayes of School Meals that Rock and the Mushroom Council to plan a side project to develop and test recipes featuring beef and mushrooms. The Montana Beef to School Coalition met once in October and again in January to provide input on all progress made to date. We are currently in the planning stages for an in-person Montana Beef to School Coalition meeting in March.

March – July 2015 Carmen Byker Shanks was notified of the grant award in March 2015. The research team was immediately notified of the award. Initial project activities included completing Institutional Review Board training, submitting Institutional Review Board application and receiving approval, funding revision and initiation, and hiring a project coordinator. A Facebook page and Twitter account was set up, with weekly posts beginning in May 2015. The first blog post was published, focusing on an introduction to planned grant activities. A grant press release was written and published. Following, seven other media outlets published news about beef to school in Montana. Marty Earnheart joined the research team as a representative of the Montana Department of Agriculture. Project document sharing capabilities were set up with the research team and Montana Beef to School Coalition via Dropbox. The research team met by conference call and in person to discuss project details and worked by e-mail at other times. The research team researched and finalized case study and interview questions as well as began plan location and timeline for travel. The Montana Beef to School Coalition met once in June by conference call to provide grant input on all progress made to date.

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