Event offers introduction to poultry judging

Over 100 middle and high school students from 15 different Georgia schools visited the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Gainesville Campus on Feb. 18 to attend Poultry 101. They learned about poultry judging and UNG's agriculture program, which includes three pathways with associate degrees: poultry science, general agriculture and avian biology.

Hosted by the UNG Poultry Science Club, the event offered sessions with students rotating between morning sessions of examining egg quality, whole carcass judging and processed products (meat products such as chicken wings, nuggets, patties, and raw chicken breasts).

"This was our largest group to date," Dr. Linda Purvis, assistant professor of biology, said. "We had several repeat attendees and several brand-new schools attending."

UNG poultry science students led the instructional groups, and several faculty and staff from the Department of Biology and College of Science & Mathematics supported the day's activities.

Students with a wide range of interests can find a poultry career that's right for them.

Dr. Linda Purvis

UNG assistant professor of biology

Poultry 101 began as an idea to broaden UNG's reach and bring students to campus because of UNG's poultry program. Purvis, who has taught at UNG since 2008, explained some students who are interested in agricultural products such as chicken, beef, eggs, and livestock do not have access to the items for hands-on training.

This is the only event in Georgia where college students train middle and high school students in poultry. Poultry 101 offers more hands-on training than just looking at pictures which is all many schools have access to, Purvis said.

Funds were provided by the US Poultry & Egg Foundation education and recruitment grant received by UNG in November. Additionally, several industry partners in the area donated items for the event including Aviagen, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Lathem Farms, and Chick-fil-A Robinson Crossing.

Koch Foods Inc. has partnered with the program for five years.

"The food industry requires essential workers for sustainability. Opportunities offered in this area promote a pipeline for entry-level supervisors and managerial career advances," Daryl Porter, Koch Foods complex human resources manager, said. "The knowledge gained by students through the UNG poultry science program is very attractive for recruiting purposes to Koch Foods, as well as other poultry companies."

According to a September 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, overall employment of agricultural and food scientists is projected to grow 8% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. About 4,100 openings for agricultural and food scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. 

"While farming is a huge part of the poultry industry, it's not the only part," Purvis said. "You've got veterinarians, pharmaceutical companies, packaging and equipment companies, and transportation. There are labs, testing, health, and nutrition. Students with a wide range of interests can find a poultry career that's right for them."

As a result, a large number of poultry and poultry-related industries are seeking individuals with poultry science degrees to further the advancement of the industry. Events like Poultry 101 are designed to help encourage students to pursue careers in these industries.