BUNKER HILL – More than $7,500 in donations will help Maconaquah Middle School establish a new program in which students will raise cattle on school property and then turn the animals into school lunches.
The planned program that’s been dubbed “Mac Cattle Company” will include raising beef cows on Maconaquah’s campus on a plot of land that will house a pole barn and a fenced-in pasture.
Seventh grade students will help design the barn, as well as a business model for the program. Calves will be purchased, raised and studied by students before they are processed by a third party for school meals.
Principal Craig Jernagan said middle school teachers and students have worked hard to establish themselves as leaders in the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, and the project has the potential to bring the school to “the next level.”
“Education of this kind and of this caliber is not common in middle school,” he said in a press release. “It will provide (our) students with a great opportunity and an advantage over students from other schools as they choose a college or career in the future.”
The project is being funded by grants from Miami Cass REMC, Beacon Credit Union’s Ag Group, Square D Schneider Electric and Kokomo Gravel.
Miami Cass REMC donated a $5,000 grant through Operation Round Up to help cover costs of concrete, electrical supplies and plumbing in the pole barn that will house the cattle.
Beacon Credit Union’s Ag Group donated $2,500 to the project. Square D donated a 200-amp load center, breakers and trim, while Kokomo Gravel donated two tons of stone.
Jernagan thanked the local funders “for seeing the merit in this project that will supply our students with quality food and teach students the science and hard work of raising beef.”
“I’m impressed with the community support for Mac Cattle Company,” he said. “The students have poured their hearts into this endeavor, and it’s nice to see their hard work come to fruition.”
Maconaquah Middle School is still pursuing funding for the project through grants, donations and other fundraising efforts. Anyone interested in donating can contact Craig Jernagan at the school.