Montana Beef
A high-quality protein for school meals
Every Montana school can serve Montana beef. With more than 2 million cattle and just over 1 million people, our state has plenty to share. Explore everything you need to bring Montana beef to your school meal program.
Why Montana Beef Belongs on the Menu
How serving Montana-raised beef makes a meaningful difference for students, schools, and communities.
Supports Ranchers
Using Montana beef keeps more school food dollars within the state. Supplying beef to schools gives ranchers another market for their products and an opportunity to build a reliable source of income. This supports the longevity of Montana ranches while strengthening the state’s agricultural economy and heritage.
Nourishes Students
Montana-grown beef provides high-quality protein along with iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. These nutrients support growth, energy, immune function, brain development, and learning across the lifespan. Access to nutritious foods early in life supports children's long-term wellbeing and shapes lifelong food preferences.
Strengthens Community
Serving Montana allows students to learn and celebrate where their food comes from. Donations from students’ families and local ranchers build lasting relationships with ranchers right in the school’s backyard. Instead of serving beef from an unknown source, schools can serve food raised by people their students know and trust.
Higher Cooked Yield
Beef that loses less water and fat during cooking provides more usable product per pound. A higher cooked yield can translate into more portions from each case purchased. This helps schools receive greater value from their food budget while reducing cooking loss.
Loved by Students
Beef is a familiar ingredient used in many student favorites. It works well in dishes such as tacos, burgers, chili, pasta, and casseroles. Serving meals students recognize and enjoy can increase participation and help reduce food waste.
Stretches Budget
Donated beef lowers protein costs without pulling money from another district fund or funding source. Those savings stay in the food service program for produce, equipment, labor, and other needs.
The Producer Partnership
Livingston, Montana
Who They Are
The Producer Partnership was founded in 2020 by Montana rancher Matt Pierson after seeing an opportunity for neighbors to help feed neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic. That simple idea grew into the nation’s first USDA federally inspected processing facility owned and operated by a nonprofit. Today, the organization partners with livestock producers across Montana to turn donated animals into high-quality protein for schools, food banks, senior centers, veterans’ pantries, and other community organizations.
How It Works
A producer selects an animal to donate and chooses which school or community organization will receive the meat. The Producer Partnership coordinates pickup or drop-off and processes the animal free of charge at its federally inspected facility. Each donation is tracked from start to finish, and the producer receives a tax contribution letter documenting the amount of protein processed.
What It Means for Your Program
Schools can receive Montana-raised beef without paying for the animal or processing. Food service directors select the cuts that best fit their menus, and the animal is processed according to the school’s cut-sheet order. This helps districts lower food costs, serve more local protein, and build meaningful relationships with ranchers in their communities.
