USPOULTRY Foundation allocates $306,366 in student recruiting grants

Six U.S. universities with poultry science departments and 22 other institutions with industry-related programs are receiving student recruiting grants.

The USPOULTRY Foundation awarded student recruiting grants totaling $306,366 to six U.S. universities with poultry science departments and 22 other institutions with industry-related programs. The foundation provides annual recruiting and retention funds to colleges and universities to attract or connect students to their poultry programs or the industry. The grants were made possible in part by gifts to the USPOULTRY Foundation from companies, individuals and families, in addition to funds earned over the years from the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.

The six poultry science departments receiving the grants are:

University	Grant amount	Grant made possible in part by:
Auburn University	$33,230	Ingram Farms
Mississippi State University	$30,336	Sanderson Farms
North Carolina State University	$30,491	Stanley & Dorothy Frank Family Foundation
Texas A&M	$49,457	Tyson Foods
University of Arkansas	$31,163	Monty and Margot Henderson Student Recruiting Fund
University of Georgia	$25,323	Leland Bagwell Education and Innovation Fund

The 22 other institutions with industry-related programs receiving recruiting and retention grants under the Foundation’s Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program are:

Institution	Grant amount	Grant made possible in part by:
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Ga.	$1,175	Don Dalton Student Recruiting Fund
California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) State University	$6,660	AJC International
California State University– Fresno	$7,000	Agri Stats, Inc.
Clemson University	$2,875	Leland Bagwell Education and Innovation Fund
Cleveland Community College, N.C.	$2,310	Prestage Farms
Iowa State University	$4,620	West Liberty Foods
Louisiana State University	$4,620	Sanderson Farms
Middle Tennessee State University	$6,600	Pilgrim’s
Modesto Junior College, Calif.	$7,000	USPOULTRY Staff
North Carolina A&T State University	$5,800	Stanley & Dorothy Frank Family Foundation
Prairie View A&M University, Texas	$2,310	Pilgrim’s
Sam Houston State University, Texas	$7,000	Jerry and Cherie Moye
Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas	$4,600	Frost PLLC
Tennessee State University	$4,620	Tyson Foods
Tennessee Technological University	$4,620	Hubbard Farms Charitable Foundation
University of Florida	$2,600	Claxton Poultry
University of Mount Olive, N.C.	$4,148	Perdue Farms
University of North Georgia	$7,000	Leland Bagwell Education and Innovation Fund
University of Tennessee	$4,620	Centurion Poultry
University of Wisconsin–River Falls	$2,310
Wallace State University	$6,938	Peco Foods
Wilkes Community College, N.C.	$7,000	Case Farms

“It['s] critical that we interest bright young people to study careers in the poultry industry. We need astute, young individuals to join our companies, as they will be the future leaders of our industry. USPOULTRY Foundation recruiting grants are essential in helping colleges and universities encourage students to enroll in industry-related studies,” said Greg Hinton, Rose Acre Farms, and USPOULTRY Foundation chairman.

U.S. Poultry & Egg Association established the USPOULTRY Foundation in 1994 to provide student recruiting funds to universities with poultry science departments. In 2004, the Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program was added to the foundation’s umbrella so other colleges and universities that offer industry-related studies are eligible to apply for recruiting grants.