McGregor ISD is switching to locally sourced beef in school cafeterias
A TDA grant is allowing McGregor, Crawford and Lampasas school districts to serve only locally sourced beef in their cafeterias
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - McGregor ISD will only be serving locally sourced beef purchased with grant money approved by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The McGregor, Crawford and Lampasas school districts were approved for the Local Food for Schools grant by the Texas Department of Agriculture. With this grant, schools can receive up to $250,000 to purchase or unprocessed foods grown locally to serve in cafeterias.
McGregor ISD Food Services Director, Lisa Mays, said she hopes the switch will get more students to eat in the cafeteria.
“The students themselves and the parent knowing that we’re providing food that is minimally processed, that that will encourage the parents to get their students to eat in the cafeteria or at least give it a try,” Mays said.
McGregor ISD purchased beef for the 2024-2025 school year from Barnard Beef Cattle Company. The company operates out of Oglesby on owner Blayr Barnard’s ranch.
Barnard said she thinks students will be less reluctant to try hamburgers in their school cafeteria after McGregor ISD switches to her company’s beef.
“Kids are gonna find that these burgers are not going to be as dry because they have a good fat content in them. And all it is is just beef. That’s 100% the ingredient. There’s no salt. There’s no fillers. There’s no preservatives. It’s just beef.”
The Barnard Beef Cattle Company delivered beef to Mcgregor ISD for the 2024 semester.
Barnard said her company plans to deliver around 8,000 pounds of beef to McGregor ISD each school year.
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