Grants That Take Your Program to the Next Level!

Dairy West is excited to announce the release of the 2026 Fall Power Up Pack Grant. These packages include everything you need — both equipment and marketing options — to launch the following mobile serving lines:

• Breakfast In the Classroom
• Breakfast Grab-and-Go
• Hot Chocolate/Smoothie/Latte Cart (only available to high schools)
• Hot Chocolate/Smoothie Cart
• NEW! Innovation Grant

These grants are designed to boost student excitement and increase participation around your school meals programs.

Grant Application Open Period: September 8, 2026 - October 2, 2026

About Our NEW Innovation Grant

Great school meals are about more than what’s on the menu—they’re about creating an experience that excites students and encourages them to participate. The Dairy West Equipment Innovation Grant is designed to help bring creative ideas to life by providing equipment and support for innovative approaches to school meals.

We define school meal innovation as reimagining how students experience school meals through new ideas, equipment, and service models that increase participation, improve access, enhance meal quality, increase operational efficiency or create a more engaging dining experience.

If you have an idea that could transform the student meal experience in your school or district, this grant can help turn that vision into reality.

Marketing-Only Options Available

Looking to add marketing without additional equipment?

Increase student excitement in your program by requesting marketing materials designed to engage students, build interest and increase participation.

Request marketing options here! (Application form only open during above mentioned application period)

For more information on grants or how they can impact your program, please contact Deena Benson.

Looking for additional school nutrition resources?

Check out these additional free resources that you can order to power up your program!

Success Story: New Charter School Sees Success With Smoothie Cart

Maj Bruce Sims, Assistant Head of School at Idaho Novus Classical Academy, had this to say about the recent smoothie cart addition provided through a Dairy West Power Up Pack grant:

"Thanks to a generous grant from Dairy West, our school was able to introduce an exciting new option to our lunch program with a smoothie cart serving up pre-ordered, fresh yogurt smoothies to our 400+ K-7th grade students. As a charter school in our second year, this initiative has been a resounding success for us. In the very first month of this initiative, we recorded over 150 pre-order sales, reflecting a significant boost in participation, which directly supports the sustainability and growth of our lunch program. With this smoothie cart, we have been able to offer appealing, nutritious a la carte items to draw in more students and to give a great snack option to regular participants. Students say that the smoothie has been a delicious new offering from our kitchen."

Want to collaborate amongst other school nutrition professionals and receive the most up-to-date information and resources?

Learn more about Dairy West resources and how other school nutrition professionals are enhancing their programs by joining the Dairy West School Nutrition Professionals Facebook group. The group is open to all Idaho and Utah school nutrition professionals in K-12 settings, including directors and staff, to offer resources and opportunities to share ideas across programs.