Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC), in Tifton, Ga., has been awarded a $7,000 USPOULTRY Harold E. Ford Foundation (USPOULTRY Foundation) grant to assist the college in recruiting students interested in poultry and related industry careers. The grant was made possible in part from an endowing Foundation gift from the Don Dalton Student Recruiting Fund. The late Don Dalton was president of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) from 1992 to 2007, and he was instrumental in creating the USPOULTRY Foundation during his tenure.
The check was presented by John Starkey, current president of USPOULTRY and its Foundation and Don’s predecessor, to Dr. Katheryn Cerny, ABAC professor and student advisor. They were joined by ABAC student, David Hall. The recruiting grant check presentations were part of the College Student Career Program activities at the International Poultry Expo (IPE), part of the 2018 International Production & Processing Expo.
“It was Don’s vision that led to the establishment of grants at schools like ABAC that connect students to the poultry industry, and he’d be pleased with the growth of the program,” said Starkey.
The USPOULTRY Foundation board awarded student recruiting grants totaling $282,500 for the 2017-2018 school year 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 IPE.
