Eufaula Public Schools is supplementing its food budget with a federal grant that awards funds to schools that will use the money to purchase food from local farms and ranches.

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program “is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips and local food sourcing for school meals.”

The school district applied for and received a $5,000 renewable grant. Once the money is spent, the school can apply for another $5,000 grant – which could mean a total of $10,000 for the school year.

“We can purchase fruit, vegetables and meats from local suppliers,” said School Superintendent Monty Guthrie.

There aren’t a lot of local fruit and vegetable suppliers, but there is beef.

For now, the school is working with Dismukes ranch near Checotah for meat, mostly ground beef.

“They have it processed and delivered to us,” Guthrie said.

The school’s overall budget for food is about $400,000 so the $5,000 grant won’t make a great deal of difference.

“It’s not a game changer, but it helps,” he said.

The school won’t be ordering any filet mignon.

“It will be beef for stew and soups. We have to go with the lower end cuts of beef,” Guthrie said.

The Farm to School grant has worked well.

“Anytime we can provide something beneficial to our students and our staff and it not costing us extra we will do it. If we can break even, that’s good,” he said.

Currently, vegetables aren’t on the Farm to School menu.

“There aren’t many true vegetable farmers in this area,” he said.

Maybe next year. “When we start school next year we may be in a position to continue this program. That will be the best tie to get vegetables.”