FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Department of Poultry Science in the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences recently received a $25,000 donation from the USPOULTRY Foundation.

The foundation promotes advancement of the poultry industry through education and training, and awards student recruiting grants to universities and colleges with a poultry science department or industry-related degree program through the Harold E. Ford Foundation.

U of A's Department of Poultry Science was awarded a total of $25,919.54.

"The USPOULTRY Foundation's contributions to the Department of Poultry Science are vital to the mission of the department for recruiting future leaders of the poultry industry," said department head and director of the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science Mike Kidd. "The check will be used for numerous activities to educate youth on the career opportunities that a poultry science major has to offer. These funds are vital because they help us recruit students who will become future leaders in the poultry industry."

Kidd said the gift will help support student recruitment efforts such as the annual Poultry Science Youth Conference, the youth broiler show at the Arkansas State Fair, and in-service training for faculty and recruiting activities.

The grants were announced at the USPOULTRY Harold E. Ford Foundation Executive Luncheon in January at the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition to the grant, freshman Shylynn Osborne, a poultry science major, was honored along with her Lincoln FFA poultry judging teammates and Coach Kevin Barenberg for winning last year's national championship. Osborne met U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, who delivered the keynote address at the luncheon.

Last year, the USPOULTRY Foundation board approved student recruiting grants totaling $291,000 to 32 colleges and universities across the United States. The Harold E. Ford Foundation provides annual recruiting funds to colleges and universities to attract students to poultry programs. The grants are made possible by gifts to the foundation from companies, individuals and families, in addition to funds earned over the years at the International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.