BROOKINGS — In 2019, Wall School District became the first school in South Dakota to use beef from local ranchers in its lunch program. It was a hit with students, staff and local beef producers.

The program’s success inspired more schools’ food service directors. In 2024, 69 schools in South Dakota reported serving local beef in school meals in what’s commonly called Beef to School, a component of the Farm to School program supported by SDSU Extension.

Anna Tvedt, SDSU Extension nutrition field specialist, said Farm to School supports school districts that want to serve locally sourced food in their school meal programs. Tvedt helps with education and implementation, which means she spends a lot of time working with food service directors across the state. They’re leading the way, and Tvedt is happy to support their efforts.

“They are such a fun and passionate group who believe their calling in this world is to feed children,” Tvedt said. “It’s very rewarding for me to see their passion shine through by serving high-quality, locally sourced foods in their unique Farm to School programs.”

Farm to School and Beef to School’s benefits are many, starting with the most important: the food just tastes better. Tvedt said food service directors report seeing school meal participation jump because students want to eat the school lunches.

And it isn’t just the school that benefits. Beef to School supports local producers, and bolsters South Dakota’s No. 1 industry — agriculture. Tvedt added that local producers are proud their products are being served to students in their own communities.

“That combination of passion for feeding kids great food and for supporting the local economy in a lot of these communities really made food service directors jump right into Farm to School and Beef to School once they realized it could be done,” Tvedt said. “It’s great to know that students in South Dakota are receiving high-quality, nutritious food in their school meals.”

Those interested in the SDSU Extension Farm to School program and resources can call Tvedt at 605-688-4896 or email Anna.Tvedt@sdsate.edu.