The Foundation provides annual recruiting funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programmes.

The six poultry science departments receiving the grants were:

• Texas A&M - $30,413
• North Carolina State - $18,540
• Mississippi State - $17,079
• University of Georgia - $17,714
• Auburn - $17,905
• University of Arkansas - $18,349

The 11 other institutions with poultry science programs receiving recruiting grants under the Foundation's Poultry Science Education Funding Program:

• Abraham Baldwin (GA) - $3,275
• California Polytechnic - $4,000
• California State Fresno - $4,000
• Clemson - $3,500
• Georgia Tech - $1,500
• Jones County Jr. College (MS) - $4,000
• LSU - $5,500
• Modesto (CA) - $2,500
• Penn State - $7,000
• Stephen F. Austin - $3,000
• West Virginia - $3,000

USPoultry chairman, Steve Willardsen of Cargill Value Added Meats, Wichita, Kansas, said: "It is vital that we continue to attract bright young people to study for careers in the poultry industry. The future of our industry depends on aspiring young managers joining our companies today who will be the leaders of tomorrow. Ford Foundation recruiting grants play an important role encouraging students to enroll in poultry studies."

US Poultry & Egg Association established the Ford Foundation in 1994 to provide student recruiting funds to universities with poultry science departments. In 2004, the Poultry Science Education Funding Program was added to the Foundation's umbrella so that other colleges and universities that offer identifiable poultry science studies also are eligible to apply for recruiting grants. Application must be made for these grants, which provide up to $7,000 each.

Monty Henderson (right) of George's, Inc., and Chairman of the US Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation, presented a cheque for $18,349 to Dr Michael Kidd (centre), Head of the University of Arkansas Poultry Science Department and Director of the Poultry Science Center of Excellence.