The Wayne Community College Applied Animal Science Technology program has been awarded a grant to assist the college in recruiting students interested in poultry and related industry careers.
The $4,295 USPOULTRY Foundation grant was made possible in part by a gift from Case Farms.
“Agriculture is the number one industry in Wayne County, providing 20 percent of the employment in the county,” said WCC Applied Animal Science Instructor Jennifer Johnson. “Wayne County and the surrounding area is home to three major poultry companies.”
“Recruiting is key to insuring a qualified work force for these companies. We will better be able to recruit and educate the population of Wayne County through the funds obtained with this grant,” Johnson said.
Johnson will use the grant money to purchase different types of items appropriate for different age groups from elementary through high school students and a range events such as the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair and the Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center grand opening.
Wayne Community College is one of just seven community and junior colleges out of 35 colleges and universities across the United States with a poultry science department or industry-related degree program that received grants from the USPOULTRY Foundation.
“It is imperative that we strive to interest bright young people to study careers in the poultry industry. We need astute young managers to join our companies, as they will be the leaders of our industry tomorrow. USPOULTRY Foundation recruiting grants play a vital role in encouraging students to enroll in industry-related studies and in becoming future industry leaders of tomorrow,” said Paul Hill, West Liberty Foods, Ellsworth, Iowa, and USPOULTRY Foundation chairman.
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association established the USPOULTRY Foundation in 1994 to provide student recruiting funds to universities with poultry science departments. In 2004, the Poultry Science Education Funding Program, now named the Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program, was added to the Foundation’s umbrella so other colleges and universities that offer industry-related studies are eligible to apply for recruiting grants.
In 2017, the USPOULTRY Foundation board approved student recruiting grants totaling $282,500. 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.
The USPOULTRY Foundation’s mission is to support the recruitment and training of the brightest students, seek and fund scientific research, foster student scientists and promote careers in the poultry and egg industry.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves. More information about the college can be found at www.waynecc.edu.