UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Department of Animal Science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences received a $10,000 student recruiting grant from the U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation (USPOULTRY Foundation). The grant, made possible in part by Perdue Farms Inc., will be used to support youth programs in poultry and help recruit students interested in the poultry industry.
Barbara Jenkins, vice president of education and student programs for USPOULTRY and executive director of the USPOULTRY Foundation, presented the check to Phillip Clauer, associate teaching professor of poultry science and 4-H youth poultry program coordinator at Penn State. Joining in the presentation were two poultry science students and Poultry Science Club officers, President Ethan Metzler and Vice President Lindsey Bright.
“The industry is always looking for bright, hard-working individuals who will become future leaders of the poultry and egg industry,” said Jenkins.
“We have received this grant for 15 consecutive years now,” said Clauer. “Starting in 2013, we were allowed to apply for additional funds annually due to the success of the department’s avian and poultry science minor. The program has received $124,000 since 2005.”
The annual gift helps support PA Youth Poultry 101, sponsors all state 4-H poultry contests (Poultry Judging, Avian Bowl and BBQ presentation contests) and provides funding to help support programming in poultry for youth. It also allows Penn State to take the Poultry Science Club and the Poultry Production and Management class on industry educational tours, provides personal visits to the University Park campus for students with an interest in studying poultry, and exposes youth and college students to activities for them to gain a clearer picture of the career opportunities within the poultry industry.
In September 2019, the USPOULTRY Foundation board approved student recruiting grants totaling $383,577 to 35 colleges and universities across the United States with a poultry science department or industry-related degree program. The USPOULTRY Foundation provides annual recruiting funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programs. The grants are made possible by gifts to the foundation from companies, individuals and families in addition to funds earned over the years at the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.