Minnesota State Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) today congratulated Byron High School for recently being awarded a meat education grant by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture under the state’s Meat Education and Training (MEAT) grant program. The grant is part of a $350,000 round of awards for schools around the state, aimed at boosting Minnesota’s meat processing industry.

Byron High School was awarded $27,175 to build upon its current programming by developing and adding a meat processing course with local processing partners.

“Byron High School has a long track record of excellence in providing career pathways. 

I am thrilled it was included in this round of MEAT grant awards!” Senator Nelson said. “This grant will support the school’s hands-on meat cutting and butchery training, which gives students real-world experiences and knowledge about jobs in this critical field and provides students with new career pathways in the meat processing industry. These programs are so important for Minnesota’s future processors.”

“Congratulations to the Byron High School, Community, students, parents, staff, teachers, and leadership for pursuing this in-demand career pathway!” Sen. Nelson added.

As the former chair of both the Senate Education and Tax Committees, Sen. Nelson is well known for her leadership in supporting Career Pathways. 

The MEAT Grant provides the opportunity for Minnesota schools to fund equipment purchases, facility renovation, curriculum development, faculty training, and more processing-related activities at new or established training programs for secondary students. Nine schools received grants through this funding, with a maximum award of $70,000.A full list of MEAT Grant recipients and additional information can be found in the Department’s announcement.