Silverstreaks Sprint Toward Success with Support from Build Your Base Program
MAPLE PLAIN, Minn. — The Osakis High School Track & Field teams are celebrating a remarkable spring season, evidenced by championship titles, state-level success, and a commitment to fueling their performance with intention. As participants in the Build Your Base program through the Minnesota Beef Council, the Silverstreaks exemplify how strategic nutrition can be woven into the fabric of a high-performing athletic program.
Build Your Base is a science-based, comprehensive sports nutrition program that features beef as its premier protein source. The program offers student athletes and their families practical tools – nutrition education, beef-centered meals, and protein-rich beef jerky – to support strength, stamina, and recovery throughout the competitive season.
The Build Your Base program was started by the South Dakota Beef Industry Council in 2017 and in partnership with Sanford Health and the Sanford Sports Science Institute. The Minnesota Beef Council has implemented the program in the state since 2022.
The Osakis Track & Field program has embraced Build Your Base this spring by incorporating team meals centered around beef and offering beef jerky to athletes—resources made possible through support from the Minnesota Beef Council. While their success is rooted in skill, training, and determination, Osakis has also made nutrition a cornerstone in their pursuit of excellence.
“We’re always looking for ways to get better—on and off the track,” stated Lee VanNyhuis, Osakis Track & Field Head Coach. “Build Your Base helped us do that. The team dinners gave us time to connect, and having high-protein snacks like beef jerky made it easy to stay fueled and ready.”
Both the boys and girls teams have seen great success this season, each earning the title of Prairie Conference Champions. The boys team also went on to win the Section 6A True Team meet, securing their place at the state competition held at Eden Prairie High School on May 17th, where they earned an impressive 4th place finish. With momentum on their side, the Silverstreaks now look ahead to the MSHSL State Track & Field Championships, taking place June 10th – 12th at St. Michael-Albertville High School, with numerous athletes competing in running and field events.
The Osakis Track & Field program truly embodies what Build Your Base is all about—preparing athletes for success by putting smart, practical nutrition into practice. Their commitment to fueling with beef is part of a bigger picture: creating a performance-driven environment where health and achievement go hand in hand.
To learn more about Build Your Base, visit buildyourbase.org.
