Ford Foundation Allocates Student Recruiting Grants

TUCKER, GA, October 19, 2010 - The U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation has approved student recruiting grants totaling more than $160,000 to the six U.S. universities with poultry science departments, and 11 other institutions with poultry programs. The Foundation provides annual recruiting funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programs.
The six poultry science departments receiving the grants were:

• Texas A&M - $30,413
• North Carolina State - $18,540
• Mississippi State - $17,079
• University of Georgia - $17,714
• Auburn - $17,905
• University of Arkansas - $18,349

The 11 other institutions with poultry science programs receiving recruiting grants under the Foundation's Poultry Science Education Funding Program:

• Abraham Baldwin (GA) - $3275
• California Polytechnic - $4000
• California State Fresno - $4000
• Clemson - $3500
• Georgia Tech - $1500
• Jones County Jr. College (MS) - $4000
• LSU - $5500
• Modesto (CA) - $2500
• Penn State - $7000
• Stephen F. Austin - $3000
• West Virginia - $3000

"It is vital that we continue to attract bright young people to study for careers in the poultry industry," said USPOULTRY chairman Steve Willardsen, Cargill Value Added Meats, Wichita, KS. "The future of our industry depends on aspiring young managers joining our companies today who will be the leaders of tomorrow. Ford Foundation recruiting grants play an important role encouraging students to enroll in poultry studies," he said.

U.S. Poultry & Egg Association established the Ford Foundation in 1994 to provide student recruiting funds to universities with poultry science departments. In 2004 the Poultry Science Education Funding Program was added to the Foundation's umbrella so that other colleges and universities that offer identifiable poultry science studies also are eligible to apply for recruiting grants. Application must be made for these grants, which provide up to $7,000 each.

Monty Henderson, George's, Inc., and Chairman of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation, presented a check in the amount of $18,349 to Dr. Michael Kidd,Head of the University of Arkansas Poultry Science Department and Director of the Poultry Science Center of Excellence. Joining the presentation was Marvin Childers, The Poultry Federation. "Attracting young people into poultry studies today is essential for the poultry industry's prosperity in the future," Henderson said.