26-05-2025
Women's agriculture group brings local beef to Colorado schools
EASTERN PLAINS, Colo. (KDVR) — A Colorado farm community is partnering up with several school districts on the Eastern Plains to supply hundreds of pounds of locally sourced beef.
The idea started nearly a year ago, and now it's been implemented across four school districts. Organizers plan to expand.
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Local producers have already donated more than 1,700 pounds of beef to Genoa-Hugo, Arriba-Flagler, Limon Public Schools and Karval School District.
'The Eastern Plains Cowbelles are a group of women that came together to make an organization that was dedicated to agriculture and just contributing to a thriving community,' said Leslie Witt, spearhead of the group. 'Keeping all of the things we value about agriculture alive.'
Witt said providing locally produced beef to local schools has already shown great promise in the first year.
'Everyone just latched with the idea and really ran with it,' said Witt. 'It's been great. It's a work in progress but we have no doubt we'll make a big impact.'
Eastern Plains Cowbelles' initial donations were whole beef animals, but the goal is to start donating a set amount of pounds of ground beef to each school twice a year.
'It's not necessarily a financial money saver to the school districts, but it is a pipeline to directly get the beef donated to school districts from people that the kids and employees of the schools know,' said Witt. 'We could not do this program without the local producers who have believed in our mission and supported us from the beginning. So, they actually donate the beef and we also have donors in local businesses that have covered the processing costs. None of it would be possible without those donations.'
So far, the group is made up of 65 members from across 13 counties on the Eastern Plains.
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'All these schools are in the Eastern Plains of Colorado and we all have students or kids or a direct connection to these school districts,' said Witt.
As the program continues to grow, Witt hopes to expand the focus to help connect students to the agricultural roots of the community.
'Agriculture is a dying breed and just the hard work ethic and dedication that goes into raising and producing our food,' said Witt. 'The greatest asset to everyone is education and knowing how it comes about and knowing how it's grown and made. Those that do it are assets to all of us.'
The Eastern Plains Cowbelles are now working to implement the program in three other districts, including Miami-Yoder, High Plains and Kit Carson. Organizers say if you want to get involved, you don't have to have your own cows, just a passion for agriculture. Their website has more information about becoming a member and more about bringing local beef into local schools.
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