December 29, 2021

Wayne Farms donates US$1.1 million new poultry science building at University of Georgia, US

Georgia, US-based Wayne Farms has announced a US$1.1 million donation to help build a new Poultry Science Building at the University of Georgia.

Wayne Farms is a longtime supporter of the university's poultry science department.

"The (US) poultry industry is a complex and critical element of the nation's food supply, and education is the key to our success," Clint Rivers, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Wayne Farms and immediate past president of the National Chicken Council, said. "Farm practices, science and research, food safety, animal welfare — the University of Georgia's poultry science programme is without peer across the board, and we're proud to be part of this exciting endeavor."

The new US$54.1 million facility will be located between Boyd Hall and Conner Hall and will be a centerpiece of the university's recruitment effort for new talent in poultry science. Wayne Farms' contribution will name one of two learning laboratories in the new building, which when complete will feature more than 70,000 square feet of instructional and laboratory space and world-class research facilities.

In addition to classroom and research facilities, the new center's state-of-the-art learning labs will bolster traditional classroom instruction with production courses, demonstrations and field-learning programmes for the department's expanding FFA, 4-H and area youth programmes.

"As we're in the season of gratitude, we are ever so thankful for this gift from Wayne Farms," Todd Applegate, head of the UGA Department of Poultry Science in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, said. "As our curriculum is known to be very hands-on, their gift will help inspire every trailblazing student to big dreams and help prepare the next generation of leaders for the poultry sector."

The Poultry Science Building campaign is a public-private partnership. Thus far, the state of Georgia has allocated a total of US$23.9 million for planning and construction of the new building.

- Johnson City Press