The USPOULTRY Foundation awarded a $10,000 student recruiting grant to Penn State University. The grant was made possible in part by an endowing Foundation gift from Perdue Farms and was presented by Barbara Jenkins, executive director of the USPOULTRY Foundation, to Philip J. Clauer, assistant professor of poultry science at Penn State University.
The grant funds will be used to bolster recruiting efforts in the university’s poultry science program, supporting local 4-H Poultry contests and for regional training efforts. Additionally, the university will continue to host its “Youth Poultry 101” program, which has allowed university students to volunteer to help educate local middle and high school students about poultry topics for the past 11 years. Other efforts include an open house hosted by the Animal Sciences Department to local high school juniors and seniors, tours of the Pennsylvania poultry industry and broiler-raising projects on campus.
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.
