Teachers utilized the grants in culinary and agricultural education programs, teaching students essential skills including proper and safe beef cooking techniques, sustainability practices in beef production, and how to price compare and purchase beef products. The hands-on approach allowed students to work with real cuts of beef, practice grading techniques, understand nutritional profiles, and develop practical culinary skills.  

Educators consistently praised the program's impact on their ability to provide comprehensive beef education. At Coconino High School, students prepared grilled Top Sirloin steaks and smashburgers, gaining hands-on experience with high-quality cuts that typically fall outside standard classroom budgets. Teacher Janeille K. Buckley noted the grant "bridged the gap between theoretical textbook knowledge and real-world kitchen execution." At Joseph City High School, teacher Mari Hansen said the nutritional benefits of beef surprised many of her students, calling the lesson "a win," and noted several students went on to make the recipe again for their families.   

This program represents a successful partnership between the Arizona Cattle Industry Research & Education Foundation and the Arizona Beef Council, with foundation grant funds supporting direct educational activities. This collaboration ensures that Arizona's young people receive accurate information about beef production, safety, nutrition, and preparation while supporting the teachers who serve them.  

The grant program provides up to $125 per teacher to reimburse beef purchases that accompany educational lesson plans. To learn more about the program, visit HERE. 

This program is generously funded by the Arizona Cattle Industry Research and Education Foundation.

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About the Arizona Beef Council
The Arizona Beef Council is a non-profit organization served by a nine-member board of directors representing cattle growers, cattle feeders, and dairy farmers, and are appointed by the Governor of Arizona. These volunteers oversee the Beef Checkoff and Checkoff-funded programs.   

About the Beef Checkoff Program 
The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA Approval. For more information, visit BeefBoard.org.