NFS Profile: Austin Ridge Acres

 In an effort to understand the broad impacts of the Northeast Food for Schools (NFS) Grant program in the state, we at Massachusetts Farm to School are sitting down with representatives from local food hubs, farms, and participating schools. In this interview, we hear from Loni Austin, rancher and owner of Austin Ridge Acres, a Belchertown-based beef producer about her experience selling to schools in her region.

Northeast Food for Schools (NFS) is a one time USDA program providing funds for schools to spend on locally sourced foods. The program is designed to support schools in new or expanded local food purchasing with a focus on purchases from underserved farmers. Loni Austin of Austin Ridge Acres was excited to chat about her experience selling beef to local schools. Her farm in Belchertown, MA, originally purchased from a friend, has been in operation for 10 years. At first she grew hay and corn, and eventually she purchased two heifers and began raising beef cattle. Business took off in 2020, and they started processing their own beef and opened their farm store!

Austin Ridge Acres’ involvement with school sales and the Northeast Food for Schools program began through Loni’s friendship with Barrett Grazioso of Belchertown Public Schools. Barrett expressed interest in purchasing beef from Loni using NFS funding and her lunch tray featuring local Austin Ridge Acres beef went on to win the Terrific Trays competition in January 2024! From there, interest in Austin Ridge Acres spread by word of mouth and soon other districts, such as Chicopee Public Schools and East Longmeadow Public Schools were sourcing from their farm too. 

Loni expressed a love for working with Barrett and the other food service directors, and seeing the innovative ways they use beef in school meals. She has also been pleased to see that partnerships with schools provide her the ability to move products and have a steady income stream (particularly in the slow seasons). Another benefit is providing quality beef to the kids in their community. One of these kids happens to be her own daughter, who is proud to see her family’s beef on the menu!

Lori is glad that the state is prioritizing minimally processed, local products and increasing business opportunities for small farms. She hopes that farmers participating in the NFS program will spread the word about selling to schools as a viable sales avenue for small farmers. She stressed the importance of choosing quality meat and educating school nutrition staff about how the animal was raised, slaughtered, and processed, so they can share their knowledge with the broader school community.