At the recent National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky., incoming USPOULTRY Foundation Chairman, Elton Maddox, Wayne Farms, Oakwood, Ga., announced an enhancement of the USPOULTRY Foundation’s support for the National FFA Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE). The Poultry Evaluation CDE is a competitive event that helps students develop their ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and perform effectively in a competitive job market by testing their skills in the production, processing and marketing of chickens, turkeys, processed poultry products and eggs. Beginning with January 2015, the top 10 finishing teams of the Poultry Evaluation CDE will receive an all-expense paid trip to the International Poultry Expo (IPE), part of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga.

Poultry industry leaders will participate in a program that will inform the students about the multitude of career opportunities in the industry. Additionally, students will have an opportunity to visit the vast trade show floor to see the exciting technology used by today’s modern, sustainable poultry industry.

“It is an honor for our high-achieving FFA members to attend the expo,” said Dwight Armstrong, CEO of the National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation. “It certainly will take their awareness of the poultry industry to a higher level, and by creating a tighter bond between FFA and the IPE, the poultry industry is tapping into a deep talent pool of bright young people committed to agriculture and excited about careers in the poultry, meat and feed sector. This is an investment in the future of the American poultry industry that should pay great dividends.”

“The USPOULTRY Foundation is excited to announce this expansion of our relationship with FFA and the Career Development Event. Our Association has long been a supporter of the FFA Poultry Evaluation CDE, and we are pleased to be able to offer the teams an opportunity to experience the world’s largest annual trade show for the poultry, meat and feed industries,” remarked Maddox.

The following teams have been invited to attend the IPPE in January. They are listed in their order of finish: Hughson FFA, California; Lincoln FFA, Arkansas; Prairie Central FFA, Illinois; Wheaton FFA; Missouri; Gilmer FFA, Texas; Texico FFA, New Mexico; East Jackson High FFA, Georgia; Louisburg FFA, Kansas; Crest FFA, North Carolina; and Adair FFA, Oklahoma.