California Beef Council Hosts Ranch-to-Tray Tours Connecting School Nutrition Professionals and Local Producers
A panel Q&A session about the importance of strengthening connections between school meal programs and local producers featured (l to r): Ashley Ardis and Ross Ardis, owners of Ardis Cattle Company; Jason Beach, Director of Café Services for Oakdale Joint Unified School District; and Michael Ackley-Grady, Farm to School Regional Producer Engagement Specialist for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. • Photo courtesy of California Beef Council.
ROCKLIN, Calif., March 25, 2026 (CALIFORNIA NEWS TODAY) — Agricultural organization, California Beef Council, a company specializing in promotion, research and education for the California beef industry, has announced its continued Ranch-to-Tray tours aimed at connecting school nutrition professionals with California beef producers.
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The Ranch-to-Tray tours are part of the California Beef in Schools program and are conducted in collaboration with the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Farm to School Network. The initiative is designed to help school nutrition professionals better understand the beef supply chain and strengthen relationships with local ranchers and producers.
“School nutrition staff are a big part of kids’ education because nutrition plays such an important role in supporting their learning, growth, and development. School meals are often some of the most nutritious meals children receive, and school nutrition professionals play a key role in making sure students benefit from those meals by keeping them appealing and enjoyable. As schools seek to source more items like locally raised beef for their menus, school nutrition professionals have a few practical challenges to deal with,” said Kori Dover, Director of Food and Nutrition Outreach for the California Beef Council.
The tours are structured to demonstrate how beef moves from cattle production through processing and into school meal programs.
On March 17, 45 attendees gathered at the Oakdale Joint Unified School District’s Central Kitchen before visiting local beef and dairy operations owned by the Hoekstra and Ardis families. Participants received information about animal care practices, dairy and beef system connections, and sustainability efforts within dairy operations.
Lunch was served on-site and included smoked brisket stew made with beef sourced directly from Ardis Cattle Company, which sells to the Oakdale Joint Unified School District.
“Building direct relationships with local producers helps us serve high-quality meals while also supporting our local community. Sourcing locally allows districts to invest in both students and regional agriculture,” said Jason Beach, Director of Café Services for Oakdale Joint Unified School District.
“It’s exciting to be part of what local kids are eating, especially knowing our own son was one of them, and it’s a way for us to invest in our community,” said Ross Ardis, owner of Ardis Cattle Company.
The discussion also addressed available funding and procurement resources for schools seeking to expand local sourcing efforts.
“There are resources and funding opportunities available to help schools incorporate more regional and local foods into their meal programs while supporting districts and producers as they navigate the process,” said Michael Ackley-Grady, Farm to School Regional Producer Engagement Specialist for the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Farm to School Network.
On March 19, 32 attendees met at Chico State University for a tour of the Meats Lab and Beef Lab, where participants observed demonstrations on beef processing, food safety and fabrication practices. Lunch included ground beef tacos prepared by the Columbia Elementary School District using locally sourced ingredients.
“We don’t need to use much seasoning on our taco meat because the fresh ground beef has a rich flavor on its own, and our students really enjoy it. Paired with fresh salsa, it’s a meal students look forward to,” said Deanna Mertle, Food Service Director, Columbia Elementary School District.
Over the two-day program, representatives from 25 school districts participated in the tours and related discussions.
For more information, visit www.calbeef.org.
Source: California Beef Council
