DMS Students Take Top 2 Spots in Top Cut Beef Competition

Students at C.S. Driver Middle School in Marcellus took first and second place in the Fifth Annual Top Cut Beef Contest held recently.

FACS teacher Elizabeth Milliken’s students won first place with the “Oh My Gosh, Goulash!” recipe in the middle school division, while “Crunchy Dorito Wrap” came in close behind in the competition, which is a program through New York Agriculture in the Classroom and the New York Beef Council.

The first place team was made up of Caiden McLymond, Sophie Mondello, Molly Moses and Keelyn Martin, while Saria Matthews, Leah Wood, Sophia Pilon and Maddy Foy were on the second place team.

More than 60 classrooms competed to develop a beef recipe of their choice which could be served in their school cafeteria, and worked with food service staff to identify the process of procuring, preparing and providing a balanced school lunch.

The hands-on experience taught students the versatility of beef, as well as safe food handling and nutritional requirements for school lunches.

Students filmed their own commercials, free logos and wrote morning announcements to market their products.

“I’m so impressed with the work that my Independent Living class has completed and can’t wait to see what else this group of students can accomplish,” Milliken said.