TIFTON—A $5,800 grant from the United States Poultry and Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation will help to open the doors to careers in the poultry industry for students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Dr. Tim Marshall, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources at ABAC, said the funding will allow ABAC students to go on field trips to poultry companies throughout the state and visit the annual International Poultry Exposition.

“Interest in poultry science in South Georgia is increasing due to the expansion of the broiler industry in the area,” Marshall said.  “Employment opportunities have increased significantly.”

Jim Brock, president of Crystal Farms, Inc., echoed that sentiment when he presented the grant funds check to Marshall.

“We are trying to reach these college students,” Brock said.  “We want to attract them to the industry because there are jobs available for them.”

ABAC offers an introductory class in poultry science.  Students can use this class toward the completion of a degree at ABAC and then transfer to a university to complete their bachelor’s degree in poultry science.

“We appreciate this grant funding very much,” Marshall said.  “The bottom line for our graduates is that these companies are hiring.  These jobs are out there.”