RSA Employees Mary Oxarart, Martin Townsend, and Angel DeVries stay warm while they pack up beef

RSA Employees Mary Oxarart, Martin Townsend, and Angel DeVries stay warm while they pack up beef for the Beef in Schools program

Malta Schools

August 12, 2026

Local Beef Partnership Saves Malta Public Schools More Than $10,000

The partnership between the PC Cattlewomen, Rural Communities & Agricultural Neighbors (RCAN), Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA), and local beef producers continues to make a lasting impact at Malta Public Schools. During the 2025–2026 school year, the Beef into Schools program provided enough locally donated beef to save the district approximately $10,310 in food costs while serving students nutritious, high-quality meals featuring Montana-raised beef.

Through the generosity of local ranchers and the leadership of the PC Cattlewomen, RCAN, and RSA, donated beef is processed and served in school meals, reducing the district's reliance on commercially purchased beef while supporting local agriculture. The program has become an outstanding example of how community partnerships directly benefit students and strengthen public education.

Ranchers Stewardship Alliance plays an important role behind the scenes by connecting producers, processors, and the school district. By coordinating the many details involved, RSA helps reduce the workload for volunteers, ranchers, and school staff, ensuring the program continues to operate smoothly and efficiently.

Through the Beef into Schools program, producers donate a finished animal to the school district, where it is processed at a USDA-inspected facility and delivered back to the school for use in student meals. Producers may choose to work with Producer Partnership in Livingston, which provides free processing, or they may use another USDA-inspected processor of their choice, with processing costs being the responsibility of the producer.

"The Beef into Schools program is an outstanding example of what can be accomplished when a community invests in its schools," said Superintendent Dylan MacLean. "The generosity of the PC Cattlewomen, RCAN, Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, and our local producers has created a program that not only saves the district more than $10,000 each year, but also provides our students with high-quality, locally raised beef. We are incredibly grateful for their continued commitment to our students."

In addition to the significant financial savings, the program strengthens the connection between Malta Public Schools and the agricultural community. Every donated animal represents an investment in students, allowing the district to stretch its nutrition budget while providing fresh, locally sourced meals.

Malta Public Schools extends its sincere appreciation to the individuals who generously donated animals during the 2025–2026 school year:

  • Allie Olson

  • Dr. Mike Righetti

  • Cliff and Anna Merriman

  • Janet and Dale Veseth

  • Trenton Dovre

  • Bill and Patti Webb

  • Bruce and Linda Hould

The district also thanks the PC Cattlewomen, Rural Communities & Agricultural Neighbors (RCAN), Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA), and all of the volunteers and partners whose dedication makes this program possible. Their continued support helps ensure students receive nutritious meals while demonstrating the strength of community partnerships and the shared commitment to investing in the next generation.

As the Beef into Schools program continues to grow, Malta Public Schools looks forward to building on this successful partnership and celebrating the lasting impact of local agriculture on student success.