WHAT’S YOUR BEEF IN THE CLASSROOM
2026-2027
PURPOSE
What’s Your BEEF in the Classroom is a grant program administered by the Washington CattleWomen for junior and senior high school Agriculture, Culinary Science, Consumer Science, Family & Consumer courses and 4-H educators. The grants are funded by Washington beef ranchers through their Beef Checkoff dollars administered by the Washington Beef Commission.
This program is limited to $200 per teacher for the 2026-2027 school year and is available for Washington teachers only. Ten (10) teachers will be selected based on lesson plans and innovative ways to teach about beef in the classroom. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2026 and grants will be announced by December 15, 2026.
This program provides financial support for the purchase of beef for use in classroom activities only. Lesson plans must include some of the following information: protein and nutrition benefits of beef; correct storage and preparation of beef; understanding labels on beef; ground beef vs meat substitutes and beef sustainability. Please download the Beef Educational Materials PDF for the required materials you can use to complete your lesson plan. Additional educational materials, beef recipes and nutritional information can be found at: www.wabeef.org
Another source of information and lesson plans is the National Agriculture in the Classroom website. They have beef lesson plans online as well as videos and movies. Topics are grading beef, cows and climate change, and beef vs plant-based protein. Their lesson plans meet common core standards and Family and Consumer Science guidelines. Check them out at https://agclassroom.org
APPLICATION –
FORM 1 “Application for Beef Grant”. Download the form at: www.washingtoncattlewomen.org, What’s Your Beef /Beef Grant Program prior to purchasing beef. Be sure to download the Beef Educational PDF before completing Form 1. Return the completed Form 1 to washingtoncattlewomen@gmail.com
REIMBURSEMENT -
FORM 2 – “Reimbursement Request and Evaluation” will be emailed to you if you are one of ten teachers selected based upon your lesson plan. Purchase beef and keep receipts for submittal. You can find a list of local ranchers who sell beef directly to the public at www.wabeef.org/raisingbeef/buylocal. To receive your reimbursement, we must receive the following:
o Completed Form 2
o Original receipts for beef purchases relating to the Grant
o Photos of your beef lesson plan in action
o An evaluation of the students’ impressions about beef.
Once Form 2 is received, a check will be sent reimbursing the amount up to $200. Forms and receipts can be sent any time before May 15, 2027. No forms will be accepted after that date.
For more information contact: Gail Shelton, (509)899-7088 or
washingtoncattlewomen@gmail.com
PROCESS
Download the Beef Educational Materials PDF
Submit Form 1 – Application for Beef Grant
Washington CattleWomen will contact you by email with approval and email Form 2 to you
Submit Form 2 – Reimbursement Request and Evaluation and return to Washington CattleWomen, 8381 Lyons Road, Ellensburg, WA 98926 or email to: washingtoncattlewomen@gmail.com no later than May 15, 2027
Remember you must provide original receipts.
FORM 1
APPLICATION FOR BEEF GRANT FORM