The USPOULTRY Foundation has awarded a $7,000 student recruiting grant to Wilkes Community College (WCC) in Wilkesboro, N.C. WCC is a two-year institution offering Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Animal Science Technology, Poultry Management and Agribusiness Technology. All three programs include poultry-focused coursework and are designed to prepare students for successful careers in the poultry industry upon graduation.

The recruitment funds will be used to strengthen outreach for WCC’s AAS programs. This includes high school visits, targeted recruitment initiatives for seniors and adult learners and expanded advertising through social media and local theaters to better reach prospective students throughout Western and Northwestern North Carolina. Funding will also support participation in the North Carolina FFA State Convention, development of new promotional materials and other marketing efforts across the region.

A portion of the grant will also be dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities for youth, including support for the College’s annual Youth Poultry Workshop. This hands-on day camp introduced 19 participants last summer to key aspects of the poultry industry, including candling eggs, egg break-out and grading, carcass evaluation, bird dissection and identification of internal organs. The workshop provides early exposure to poultry science and helps spark interest among future students.

This grant is part of the USPOULTRY Foundation’s broader commitment to workforce development. In total, the Foundation board approved $331,292 in student recruiting grants to 27 colleges and universities across the U.S. with poultry science or industry-related programs. These annual funds help institutions attract and retain students in poultry studies and are made possible through contributions from companies, individuals and families, as well as proceeds from the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.