MO Beef Day returns to Willow schools

For the third year in a row, students at Willow Springs School District have celebrated MO Beef Day. For the first time, this year’s event featured the Missouri Beef Industry Council’s mascot – Hazel the Heifer.
Hazel visited the middle school and high school throughout the day on Tuesday to compliment the FFA’s program of beef education. In the middle school, students saw a live presentation, and in the high school, it was a slide show, said Food Services Director Regina Roberts.
In the elementary school, Hazel got to visit a few classrooms with FFA officers and hand out coloring books.
“[Hazel] was such a hit,” Roberts said.
The purpose of MO Beef Day is to educate the students about the nutritional benefits of beef.
“We do it to support the local farmers and get the word out on why we should eat local beef,” Roberts said. “The high school students learn the process of farm to table.”
Roberts, with a helping hand from Jennifer Poor, started the MO Beef program at Willow Schools in 2021.
Meals featuring beef are, of course, a feature of MO Beef Day. This is not to say that students in Willow Springs aren’t eating fresh, local beef regularly. In fact, thanks to the MO Beef program, 850 students are eating 1,400 to 1,500 pounds of beef for a five-week rotating menu. That’s two beef animals a week.
The meat is either donated or purchased from L and V Premium Meats in Mountain Grove, Roberts said.
“We've had several local donations this year. What has not been donated to the Willow Spring school we have gotten from L and V Premium Meats,” said Roberts.
There have been three donors so far this year.