Iowa Family and Consumer Science Educators

Beef Grants

The Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) will provide $50.00 for the purchase of beef for each high school or middle school foods class for each semester for the 2023-2024 school year. The total per school is not to exceed $500.00 per year. We have expanded the grant program to middle school classes, so the funds will be allocated on a first come/first serve basis. The funds are available for Iowa teachers and classrooms only.

These funds provide financial support for the purchase of beef for use in classroom lessons about lean beef selection, storage, preparation and nutrition.  The funds are to be used in a classroom activity. Funds are NOT to be used to purchase beef for dinners, prom, etc.

Download forms: 2023-2024 Beef Grant Application

• Fill out Form 1 – Application for Beef Grant - Includes description of the Foods classes and how the funds will be used in the classroom lessons/activities.
  
• Return to IBIC (address below). IBIC will contact you with approval via email.
  
• Purchase beef (NO receipts required this year). 
  
• Submit the following document: 
  
• Form 2 – Reimbursement Request/Evaluation/Success Story
  

No funds will be reimbursed after June 30, 2024. 

Please submit applications to: 

Iowa Beef Industry Council
P.O. Box 451
Ames, IA 50010   

E-mail us if you have questions 

Funding for this program is provided by the Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program.

Buying and Preparing Beef

• Beef Choices – describes grain-finished, natural, certified organic, grass-finished beef options
  
• Recipe Finder – searchable database with 800+ beef recipes
  

INTRODUCTORY BEEF SELECTION AND COOKERY LESSONS

Two lessons cover reading the label, selecting cuts and connecting the cut to the cookery method. Developed by Medan Aden, FCS educator. 

Download the Beef Basic Lessons

• Beef Basics Lesson 1
  
• Meat Labels
  
• Beef Primal Cuts Worksheet
  

Download the Beef Cookery Lessons

• Beef Cookery Lesson 2
  
• Beef Cookery Methods Worksheets
  

NUTRITION

• Nutrition information for different age groups
• Beef and Protein

SAFETY

• Handling and Storage
  
• Using a Meat Thermometer 
  

FOODSERVICE

• For Foodservice Professionals
  

HOW WE RAISE CATTLE

• Raising Beef that address current issues in the news and social media related to environment, nutrition, safety and animal care.
  

Ground Beef Taste Test Lessons

Two new lab-based ground beef experiments which incorporate Iowa Core Health Literacy and Family and Consumer Sciences National Standards, while utilizing inquiry based lab method of Science Writing Heuristic to encourage high rigor and high relevance. Lesson edited by Kristie Kuhse, Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School.

• Ground Beef Taste Test Lesson
  

Ground Beef Lessons

Includes lesson plan and study guide, classroom recipes and teacher references. Developed by Kristie Kuhse, FCS educator, Waverly-Shellrock Junior High School.

Ground Beef 101  

• Ground Beef 101: Letter to the Educators  
  
• Ground Beef 101: PowerPoint  
  
• Ground Beef 101: PDF  
  
• Ground Beef 101: PDF Script
  

Burger Recipes  

• 100 Burger Ideas  
  
• Easy Ground Beef Recipes
  

Just for Fun  

• Hamburger Timeline  
  
• Hamburger Trivia