UA Poultry Science Department hosts Youth Conference
July 20, 2005Contact Information:
By Karen Eskew
Communication Specialist Center of Excellence for Poultry Science University of ArkansasFAYETTEVILLE --- A record 33 high school students from around the state experienced college life first-hand at the University of Arkansas while attending the ninth annual Poultry Science Youth Conference sponsored by the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas July 12-15. The conference is designed to foster interest in the poultry industry, the University of Arkansas and the UA poultry science department through hands-on experiences, tours and industry presentations. The theme of this year's conference was "Poultry Science - Your Passport to the World." In following with the theme, students were divided into six countries; Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Mexico and Thailand. After studying the poultry industry in the United States, each group was directed to research the adopted country's culture, demographics and poultry industry capabilities and compare their findings to the American model they had been presented earlier. Additionally, international graduate students from the department gave presentations, showed pictures of their home country and answered questions to aid in the students' research. Gary Davis, undergraduate recruiter said, "We wanted students to get a feel for how global the poultry industry is. If they are interested in working abroad when they complete their studies, there are opportunities to do that in the poultry industry. Students who prefer to stay close to home have that opportunity as well. Majoring in poultry science can open up tremendous opportunities for students." Student groups gave their country's presentations before faculty members and parents during a closing ceremony in the Leland Tollett Auditorium in the Poultry Science Building. Sponsors of the conference were the Farm Bureau, Harold E. Ford Foundation and the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science. Next year's conference will again be held in July. For information, e-mail Gary Davis, poultry science undergraduate recruiter, at gddavis@uark.edu. All students completing the 10th and 11th grades are invited to attend. Space is limited.
