TUCKER, Ga. — Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the future leadership and workforce of the agricultural sector, the USPOULTRY Foundation has announced the distribution of $399,803 in student recruiting grants. The substantial financial support has been awarded to 21 colleges and universities across the United States, encompassing both dedicated university departments specializing in poultry science and a broad array of additional institutions offering academic programs closely tied to the poultry industry.
Distributed annually, these targeted grants are designed to bolster institutional recruitment and retention initiatives. By providing essential financial resources, the program aims to attract talented students to poultry-related academic paths, elevate awareness regarding the vast array of professional and career opportunities available within the sector, and ultimately reinforce the long-term viability and strength of the industry’s future workforce.
The funding that makes these annual grants possible comes from a combination of generous contributions provided by dedicated companies, individuals, and families who support the mission of the USPOULTRY Foundation. Additionally, a significant portion of the funding is generated through revenues accumulated over the years from the International Poultry Expo, a prominent event that serves as an integral part of the larger International Production & Processing Expo.
Among the 21 academic institutions receiving financial support this year, six universities house dedicated Poultry Science departments. These specialized programs represent some of the leading agricultural education centers in the country and received the lion’s share of the total funding to support their ongoing student outreach and retention efforts.
Leading the group of dedicated poultry science programs, Texas A&M University was awarded $73,981. North Carolina State University secured $48,373 in funding, while the University of Georgia received $47,569. Rounding out the primary poultry science department recipients, the University of Arkansas was granted $46,077, Mississippi State University received $42,976, and Auburn University was awarded $41,024.
In addition to these specialized departments, 15 other institutions offering poultry-industry-related programs received critical recruiting and retention grants under the umbrella of the Foundation’s Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program. These institutions span community colleges, junior colleges, and major four-year universities across multiple states, reflecting the diverse educational pathways available to students entering the field.
Among the recipients of the Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program, the University of North Georgia was awarded $10,000. Several institutions received grants in the amount of $7,000, including California State University, Fresno; Cleveland Community College in North Carolina; Crowder College in Missouri; Delaware Valley University in Pennsylvania; and Modesto Junior College in California. Additional $7,000 grants were distributed to Sam Houston State University in Texas, Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, Tennessee Tech University, the University of Florida, and the University of Maryland, as well as Wilkes Community College in North Carolina. Furthermore, Ohio State University received $6,000, Arkansas State University was awarded $5,803, and Virginia Tech University received $5,000.
Industry leaders and foundation representatives emphasize that these investments are vital for the continued prosperity of the agricultural economy. Jonathan Cade of Hy-Line International, who serves as the USPOULTRY Foundation chair, underscored the importance of nurturing upcoming talent.
"Investing in the next generation of industry professionals is essential to the continued success and advancement of the poultry and egg industry. Through the USPOULTRY Foundation’s recruiting grants, we are helping colleges and universities introduce students to the diverse and rewarding career opportunities our industry offers," said Cade.
The overarching framework supporting these grants has a long history. The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association originally established the USPOULTRY Foundation back in 1994 with the primary objective of providing necessary student recruiting funds specifically to universities that maintained dedicated Poultry Science departments. Recognizing the broader educational landscape and the emergence of specialized industry-related studies at other types of academic institutions, the organization expanded its scope a decade later.
In 2004, the Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program was officially added to the Foundation’s umbrella. This expansion ensured that a wider variety of colleges and universities offering industry-related studies would become eligible to apply for and receive crucial recruiting grants. Since the inception of the recruitment program, the USPOULTRY Foundation has successfully reinvested more than $8 million directly into industry recruitment efforts nationwide.
The ongoing mission of the USPOULTRY Foundation remains centered on supporting the recruitment and training of the brightest students entering the field. Beyond student recruitment, the Foundation actively seeks and funds scientific research, fosters the development of young student scientists, and continuously promotes professional careers within the poultry and egg industry.
