Recruiting the next generation of poultry professionals

The US Poultry & Egg Association is sponsoring programs to teach young people about the poultry industry and hopefully increase interest in working in the field.

Students are an integral part of tomorrow’s agriculture industry, as both leaders and consumers, and the poultry industry needs to get our great story into the minds of young people at the grade school level.

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the affiliated state poultry association executives gather annually to discuss and collaborate on challenges in their individual states. One outgrowth of these meetings, through encouragement from the USPOULTRY board of directors, is our newly developed Grade School and Technical School Outreach Program.

This program exists so that when children begin conversing with their parents and educators about poultry, eggs and modern agriculture, they are better informed about the science behind the chicken, best practices in animal agriculture and where their food comes from.

Overcoming image problems

The poultry and egg industry faces a shortage of maintenance employees. This is, in part, because students do not view poultry careers as attractive. Let’s face it: Poultry is not top of mind for a young person with no agricultural background.

Nevertheless, today’s poultry industry is modern and high-tech. We must dispel the myth that it is not. Technical schools and colleges educate and prepare talented, bright students who would be welcomed in many career fields in the industry, such as equipment maintenance, air conditioning and refrigeration, and even information technology. Yes, the industry does want the best and the brightest four-year college graduates. But it also needs the best and the brightest technical school graduates.

Therefore, we must open our minds and think outside the box about ways to attract technical students into the poultry industry. When students see automated equipment and computers, it is the employer’s job to make certain that students know they can be successful in the industry.

Establishing a new program

To assist the industry in this effort, USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation have developed a new program that will support the affiliated state poultry associations in their efforts to develop grade school and technical school outreach programs in their states. These programs will familiarize students with the poultry and egg industry to foster understanding of modern poultry production and to encourage interest in careers in the poultry industry.