Calgary, Alta. (Rural Roots Canada) – The University of Calgary‘s working research cattle ranch is helping put locally raised beef on the tables of students facing food insecurity.

The university’s Ancillary Services and Campus Food Hub have partnered to provide ground beef from W.A. Ranches to students using campus food programs.

Under the arrangement, the university will sell two to three cows a year to the Campus Food Hub at cost, significantly reducing the price compared with buying beef at retail.

Each cow produces about 400 to 500 pounds of ground beef, allowing the food hub to stretch its resources while providing students with access to nutritious food.

“This is a really exciting example of campus collaboration,” says Kate Stenson, Campus Food Hub coordinator. “The Campus Food Hub exists to help improve food access for students, and partnerships like this allow us to support more people while making our funding go further.”

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Paul White, senior director of Ancillary Services, said the partnership provides another way for the university to use W.A. Ranches to support students.

“It’s a simple idea that brings people across campus together and can make a meaningful difference,” says White.

The partnership is intended to provide ongoing support. When supplies of beef begin to run low, food hub staff can coordinate directly with ranch staff to place orders and replenish supplies.

W.A. Ranches, operated and maintained by Ancillary Services, is a working 19,000-acre cattle operation northwest of Calgary that supports teaching, learning and research at the university.

The Campus Food Hub operates through the Centre for Career & Personal Development in Crowsnest Hall. It is supported by campus partners, donors and the Student Food Security Fund.

The partnership comes as the university emphasizes cross-campus collaboration as part of efforts to address student food insecurity and support student well-being.