Farm to School: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Announces Partnership with Atoka Public Schools

ATOKA COUNTY, Okla. – The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) and Atoka Public School (APS) have announced a multi-year farm-to-school partnership. CNO will be the official producer and distributor of fresh beef, raised and harvested in Southeastern Oklahoma, to APS campuses.

APS is a rural district in Southeast Oklahoma with just over 800 students attending its two campuses. CNO will be distributing the beef to APS weekly, and it will be the first school in the CNO reservation providing only Choctaw beef on their school lunch menu.

“We are dedicated to providing high quality, locally grown beef through long term sustainable practices,” states Jody Standifer, Executive Officer of Agriculture for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “At CNO, we’re committed to producing safe and nutritious beef with a commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility; we hope to partner with other school districts within the CNO reservation as we grow this program.”

The program kicked-off on November 16, and Atoka Public Schools will receive around 400 to 600 pounds of beef each week for its school lunch program.

“This partnership allows our school district the opportunity to offer beef to our students that is right from the fields of Southeast Oklahoma to our cafeteria tables,” states Stephanie Bray, Child Nutrition Director for Atoka Public Schools. “It’s important for our students to know where their food is coming from and care about what they are eating. Thanks to the initial idea from the CNO, school lunches at APS are tasting better than ever.”