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On the cover
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
9 | Trey Braswell shares insights into his family company’s history and successes 20 | Senate Ag debates ‘big beautiful bill’
Hatchery statistics update
News
22 | Ohio bill aimed at accurate labeling
Business Features
11 | Kipster using in-ovo technology
23 | AEB announces staff additions 26 | Environmental Excellence Award nominations open 29 | TAMU poultry team wins judging title
JUL 15-17 — AFIA FSPCA PCQI TRAINING, Inn at Opryland, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: American Feed Industry Association, 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 810, Arlington, Va. 22201; Ph: 703-524-0810; www.afia.org.
JUL 28-30 — NCC CHICKEN MARKETING SUMMIT, DeSoto Savannah, Savannah, Ga. Contact: National Chicken Council, 1152 15th Street NW, Suite 430, Washington, D.C. 20005; Ph: 202-296-2622; www.nationalchickencouncil.org.
JUL 29-31 — AAAP 68TH ANNUAL MEETING, Hilton Portland Downtown, Portland, Ore. Contact: American Association of Avian Pathologists, 12627 San Jose Blvd., Suite 202, Jacksonville, Fla. 32223; Ph: 904-425-5735; Email: aaap@aaap.info; www.aaap.info.
Viewpoints
“Our producers compete in global markets where efficiency and productivity determine success.”
7 | Georgia Poultry Federation elects new officers
Broiler chicks and turkeys hatched are down slightly, reports say
DAVID B. STRICKLAND POULTRY TIMES EDITOR DSTRICKLAND@POULTRYTIMES.COM
WASHINGTON — The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, in its recent reports, gives updates on broiler chicks and turkey poult hatch numbers for the U.S.
In its most recent “Chickens and Eggs” report, NASS notes that broiler-type chicks hatched for April 2025 were down slightly from last year.
“Broiler-type chicks hatched during April 2025 totaled 842 million, down slightly from April 2024,” NASS said. “Egg in incubators totaled 751 million on May 1, 2025, up 1 percent from a year ago. Leading breeders placed 8.87 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during April 2025, up 9 percent from April 2024.”
For broiler egg-type chicks, they are reported up 8 percent for the April production, USDA notes.
“Egg-type chicks hatched during April 2025 totaled 60.1 million, up 8 percent from April 2025,” NASS reports. “Eggs in incubators totaled 59.5 million on May 1, 2025, up 15 percent from a year ago. Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 235,000 during April 2025, down 6 percent from April 2024.”
year, the agency noted.
“Turkey eggs in incubators on June 1, 2025, in the United States totaled 24.2 million, up 6 percent from June 1, 2024,” NASS said. “Eggs in incubators were down 2 percent from the May 1, 2025, total of 24.7 million eggs.”
Regarding egg production, the department adds that chicken eggs in April were down 7 percent.
For turkey poults, NASS notes a slight decrease for May in its June “Turkey Hatchery” report.
“Turkey poults hatched during May 2025 in the United States totaled 21.3 million, down slightly from May 2024,” the report said. “Poults hatched were up 6 percent from the April 2025 total of 20.1 million poults.”
The net turkey poults hatched for the month were also down slightly, NASS adds.
“The 19.9 million net poults placed during May 2025 in the United States were down slightly from the number placed during the same month a year earlier,” the report added. “Net poult placements were up 5 percent from the April 2025 total of 19 million.”
Turkey eggs in incubators at the beginning of June were down 2 percent from last
“United States egg production totaled 8.32 billion during April 2025, down 7 percent from last year,” NASS reports. “Production included 7.09 billion table eggs, and 1.24 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.14 billion were broiler-type and 100 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during April 2025 totaled 352 million, down 6 percent from last year. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,368 eggs, down slightly from April 2024.”
NASS also reports that the total number of chicken layers for the month was 5 percent from 2024.
“Total layers in the United States on May 1, 2025, totaled 352 million, down 5 percent from last year,” the report said. “The 352 million layers consisted of 288 million lay-
Special
In its current statistics reports, the USDA is noting broiler chicks, as well as turkey poults, are down slightly compared to last year.
ers producing table or market type eggs, 60.4 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.90 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2025, averaged 78.9 eggs per 100 layers, down slightly from May 1, 2024.”
And in its June 18 “Broiler Hatchery” report, NASS notes that broiler-type eggs set, as well as chicks placed were both up 1 percent.
“Hatcheries in the United States weekly program set 252 million eggs in incubators during the week ending June 14, 2025, up 1 percent from a year ago,” the report said. “Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week in the United States was 79.1 percent.”
The agency adds that for average hatchability it is figured by dividing the chicks hatched during the week by the eggs set three weeks prior.
For chicks placed, NASS said, “broiler growers in the United States weekly program placed 194 million chicks for meat production during the week ending June 14, 2025, up 1 percent from a year ago.
“Cumulative placements from the week ending Jan. 4, 2025, through June 14, 2025, for the United States were 4.61 billion. Cumulative placements were up 1 percent from the same period a year earlier.”
GPF elects officers and highlights the year’s efforts during annual meeting
DAVID B. STRICKLAND
POULTRY TIMES EDITOR
DSTRICKLAND@POULTRYTIMES.COM
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Georgia Poultry Federation elected its new chairman and officers for the upcoming year during its recent annual meeting held at the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network headquarters in Gainesville, Ga., on June 10.
Michael Crump, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, takes the helm as GPF chairman for 2025-2026. Blake Wikle, S4 Sanitation, now becomes the group’s immediate past chairman.
“I look forward to serving this group during the next year,” Crump said. “I’m excited to serve and with everyone’s support, from the academia side, the allied partners, and, of course, the integrators … It’s a great group and I always look forward to getting together with this fine bunch.”
In his outgoing statements as the previous year’s chairman, Wikle said, “It’s been a busy year for the poultry industry. Highlighting a few of the things that the federation has been called to be a part in during the past year, the biggest one would be the impact of Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene was the largest natural disaster recorded in Georgia history. The federation was heavily involved from the very first incident all the way through.”
The federation assisted and worked with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to assist poultry growers recover from this natural disaster, he added.
“Also, for the first time in Georgia’s history the commercial poultry industry experienced highly pathogenic avian influenza within a broiler production system,” Wikle noted. “The federation
“It’s been a busy year for the poultry industry...”
Blake
Wikle, S4
Sanitation, immediate past president of the Georgia Poultry Federation
was involved from the very beginning serving as the liaison for the poultry industry and the state and federal agencies involved with the response. Working closely with the ag commissioner, the state veterinarian, and with Dr. Louise DufourZavala at the Georgia Poultry Lab. Dr. Zavala was involved with all of the testing, and this lab ramped up without warning. Her and her team are amazing at what they do.”
Mike Giles, GPF president, in a brief look at this year’s legislative session, noted that, “It was a busy year with the legislature. The number one issue that was poultry specific is that we wanted to make permanent the increase in truck weights allowed for live production, feed, and live haul. Primarily it had been in place for two years, but it was set to sunset at the end of June. If we hadn’t made that permanent, we would see increased trips, and increased transportation costs on the live side. We had good support and are pleased that is now made permanent.”
For the group’s new officers and directors, also serving as officers for the upcoming year will be Steve Snyder, Claxton Poultry Farms, senior vice chairman; Vice Chairmen (1-year
terms) Kevin Grindle, Mar-Jac Poultry; and Tim Little, Perdue Farms.
New directors will include Ben Cassidy, Aviagen; and Chris Rhodes, Tip Top Poultry. Reelected to a full term are Lucas Hill, Pilgrim’s; and Patrick Johnston, Koch Foods. Carryover directors will be James Bradford, Pilgrim’s; Scott Cochran, Columbia Farms; Adam Durkin, Fieldale Farms; Kelly Horne, Darling Ingredients; Jack McMullan, AgGeorgia Farm Credit; Dimitry Saknovsky, Harrison Poultry; Steve Schimweg, Tyson Foods; and Steve Sumner, Cal-Maine Foods.
Poultry Strong
It was also announced during the meeting that the federation’s annual outdoor music extravaganza, Georgia Poultry Strong, will be Saturday, Oct. 25. The venue for this year’s “evening under the stars” will be the Arts Council Field in downtown Gainesville, Ga.
The entertainment for 2025 will be announced soon. The federation says to stay tuned to its website for more information about this year’s event at https://gapf.org.
Photo by David B. Strickland
Michael Crump, right, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, is the newly elected chairman of the Georgia Poultry Federation. Mike Giles, left, GPF president; and Blake Wikle, S4 Sanitation, GPF past chairman, congratulate Crump during the group’s recent annual meeting in Gainesville, Ga.
Braswell Family Farms ‘feeding’ a wide array of customers
DAVID B. STRICKLAND POULTRY TIMES EDITOR DSTRICKLAND@POULTRYTIMES.COM
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Providing a special look into a fourth-generation family farm business, Trey Braswell, president and CEO of Braswell Family Farms of Nashville, N.C., was a recent guest on Poultry Times’ new podcast, The Coop Scoop.
Braswell’s business dates back to 1943, starting initially as a mill. The company still maintains a modern feed mill that produces specialty bulk feed formulas and organic feed, as well as being one of the largest specialty egg producers on the East Coast.
“Braswell Family Farms is a fourth-generation family owned and operated feed mill and egg business,” Braswell said during the podcast. “We produce feed for our hens, our laying hens, our pullets, other company’s laying hens, as well as swine and some breeder hens. Our milling business is about half internal, half external, and then our egg business is probably the largest part of our organization. We produce and market eggs up and down the East Coast from about three and a half million hens.”
The diversity of his company allows them to supply a variety of customers.
“We would say that we’re vertically integrated,” Braswell added during the podcast. “At Braswell Family Farms, we’ve come to a place that we do everything from buying the grain and the other feed ingredients from local farmers and then other places from around the world and we mill the feed. We bring all of that into our feed mill and we also buy baby chicks at one day old and then we raise them through their pullet stage and then to layers, and we also produce our eggs. We don’t produce hatching eggs, and we don’t hatch baby chicks, and we don’t actually farm row crops, but we do everything else after that; all the way to getting the eggs to the store or the warehouse.”
Regarding their egg products, Braswell has its own proprietary egg label but is also one of the founding member companies of Eggland’s Best eggs. Braswell noted during the podcast that it has always been viewed as a great decision for the business.
“My granddad Ronald, and my great uncle Gene, took a chance back in the late 1980s and purchased the Eggland’s Best franchise for North Carolina,” Braswell said. “My dad said that it was the greatest parting gift that
Trey Braswell, president and CEO of Braswell Family Farms of North Carolina, was a recent guest for Poultry Times’ new podcast, The Coop Scoop. To listen in on all the egg industry insights that Braswell shared, please visit wherever you subscribe to podcasts.
my grandad gave him. Because, you know, I think at that time in the late 80s when this idea of Eggland’s Best came up, and the two gentlemen that patented the feed formula that impacts the nutrition of the egg, when they bought and sold franchises at the International Poultry Expo, I thank that there was obviously a lot of naysayers that said that an egg is always just an egg. You can’t differentiate. And I think that there were some like my granddad and great uncle that said, ‘Well, there’s got to be a better way.”
“One – we know that eggs are wonderful. And two – we’ve got to try something different from this commodity business where it can be so up and so far down and a roller
coaster,” he added. “For the first few years, the company Eggland’s Best, which was then called Heartland’s Best, really stumbled because you’ll remember in the late 80s and early 90s, eggs unfortunately had an undeserved bad rap … the claim was that eggs were high in cholesterol and saturated fat. But my dad persevered and kept with it. My dad and others continued to invest in Eggland’s Best, and now Eggland’s Best is the number one branded specialty egg in the nation … it has really been God’s gift to us. It’s been the bread and butter for our business and helped us to find our niche and differentiate ourselves. And we are really thankful for that.”
To hear more about Braswell Family Farm’s history, business, and the importance the company places on its philanthropic efforts, go online and listen to this informative edition of Poultry Times’ The Coop Scoop podcast.
Photo Braswell Family Farms
POULTRY TIMES
Texas agriculture and American food security: Innovation and growth
BY SID MILLER
Texas
Department of Agriculture
AUSTIN, Texas — As Texas Agriculture Commissioner and a lifelong rancher, I’ve seen firsthand how technology has transformed our farms and revamped the way we do business.
Modern producers now utilize precision agriculture tools to monitor soil conditions, track livestock, optimize irrigation, and manage resources with unprecedented efficiency. To power virtually all of these essential innovations, we require access to Wi-Fi connectivity that relies on unlicensed spectrum.
In 2020, President Trump and his Federal Communications Commission made a forward-thinking decision that has proven invaluable for Texas agriculture. By unanimously opening the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use, the FCC vastly expanded the airwaves available for Wi-Fi and similar technologies. This additional capacity couldn’t have arrived at a better time for Texas producers.
tion: they rely on wireless capacity that has grown tremendously due to the 6 GHz decision. The additional spectrum has enabled rural broadband providers to deliver faster, more reliable service to remote operations. It has allowed farms and ranches to deploy more devices across larger areas and has supported the data-intensive applications that define modern agriculture.
The next generation of agricultural technology will require even greater wireless capacity. Autonomous equipment, artificial intelligence applications, and comprehensive digital farm management systems represent the future of competitive agriculture. These technologies will depend on Wi-Fi 7, which has been shown to double or potentially triple the throughput of the current generation of Wi-Fi.
Sid Miller, the 12th commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, is also an eighthgeneration Texas farmer and rancher.
unlicensed spectrum directly support our competitive position. When Texas farmers and ranchers can deploy cutting-edge systems across their operations, they maintain their status as the most productive agricultural producers in the world.
The economic impact has exceeded all expectations. In just 2023 and 2024, the economic value of Wi-Fi grew to $870 billion nationwide. By 2027, this figure is projected to reach $1.2 trillion in GDP contribution. This isn’t abstract economic theory; it’s real-world growth supporting over 7 million American jobs in 2023 alone.
In Texas, we’ve seen this lead directly to agricultural innovation. Our producers are deploying wireless sensor networks across thousands of acres to monitor soil moisture, nutrient levels, and crop health in real-time. Ranchers are using WiFi-enabled tracking systems to oversee herd health and location. Processing facilities are implementing quality control systems that rely on dependable wireless connectivity. All these applications require substantial wireless capacity, which is precisely what the 6 GHz expansion provided. These success stories share a common founda-
However, Wi-Fi 7 needs additional spectrum in the 7 GHz band to reach its full potential. Without this spectrum, American agricultural producers risk losing their technological edge at a time when global competition is intensifying, and environmental challenges are mounting.
Policymakers should follow President Trump’s lead from 2020 and build on this success by protecting the existing 6 GHz allocation while expanding into portions of the 7 GHz band. Research shows this approach would generate an additional $79.6 billion in economic value between 2025 and 2027 alone and create 1.5 million additional American jobs by 2032.
The economic rationale for Texas agriculture is clear. Our producers compete in global markets where efficiency and productivity determine success. The technological tools enabled by sufficient
I’ve spent my career fighting for policies that empower rather than restrict Texas agriculture. The successful approach to spectrum policy that expanded the 6 GHz band is exactly the kind of government decision that creates opportunity without overregulation. By continuing this approach through the protection of existing allocations and thoughtful expansion into the 7 GHz band, we can ensure American agricultural producers remain the most innovative and productive on earth.
As we consider our nation’s spectrum strategy, let’s remember what’s at stake for American agriculture. The right decisions will support continued innovation, enhanced productivity, and sustainable resource management. The wrong decisions could hamstring our producers at a critical moment. For the sake of Texas agriculture and America’s food security, let’s choose the path of innovation and growth.
Our producers compete in global markets where efficiency and productivity determine success.
Kipster using in-ovo sexing technology to end male chick culling at hatch practice
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. — Kipster announces the use of in-ovo sexing technology as an alternative to culling male chicks at hatch. The company notes that it is the second in the U.S. to use this cutting-edge approach that allows for the sex determination of chick embryos in hatching eggs during incubation. The eggs with males are immediately removed once identified, thereby preventing the hatching and culling of the day-old male chicks as is common in the U.S. egg industry.
The U.S. egg industry kills more than 350 million male chicks each year after they hatch because they are deemed useless, the company adds. They do not lay eggs and are not bred to put on as much weight as fast as broiler chickens. Opposed to the common practice of decades ago when people consumed the byproduct of egg farms as food – the male chick-
ens – nowadays people eat predominantly meat chickens from the broiler industry.
Kipster’s goal is to give roosters a place in the food system, thereby making use of all an-
imals born into its poultry farms. Kipster is the very first commercial egg producer in the U.S.
to not cull its male chicks when its U.S. farm opened in 2022, similar to Kipster’s approach in Europe. However, the company had to resort to doing so for the first time in 2024 because of a lack of suitable infrastructure and retail market for males from breeds commonly used for egg production, the company added.
“We’re disappointed that we haven’t yet succeeded in raising male chicks in the U.S.,” Ruud Zanders, Kipster co-founder and co-CEO, said. “We see this as a shortcoming on our part — a failure to fully live up to our own vision. But allowing chicks to hatch only to be immediately gassed or macerated — standard industry practice in the U.S. — is simply not an option for us. That’s why we’re turning to in-ovo sexing as a temporary alternative.”
This choice allows Kipster to stay true to its values around animal welfare and waste reduction — while continuing to work to-
ward a more structural solution, the company said. Male embryos that are not identified by the in-ovo technology — about 0.5 percent, or roughly 150-200 chicks — are planned to be raised at a farm. This means that the upcoming Kipster flock will be free of chick culling.
The Respeggt in-ovo sexing technology is used for the Kipster-hatching eggs at a Hendrix ISA hatchery. It is the first technology in the U.S. that uses DNA analysis to identify the sex of the embryos, and which can be applied to both white and brown layer hen breeds.
Originally launching in the Netherlands in 2017, Kipster started egg production in the U.S. with its partner, MPS Egg Farms, in December 2022, and its eggs are available at Kroger and its many other site banners in 28 states.
The first eggs produced by inovo sexed hens will be coming to the market in early 2026, and it will take at least a year before all Kipster eggs will be free of male chick culling, the company said, adding that raising male chicks or applying in-ovo sexing is only
one ethical practice at Kipster. These are part of a wider continuous effort to improve the living conditions and welfare of the laying hens and roosters.
“We applaud Kipster for being one of the first companies to adopt in-ovo sexing technology in the United States, keeping with their commitment to end male chick culling,” Nancy Roulston, senior director of corporate policy and animal science, ASPCA Farm Animal Welfare, said. “Now, consumers can know that the animals in Kipster’s supply chain are not only raised with higher welfare standards but will be hatched more humanely as well. We hope many other egg companies that are still practicing male chick culling follow suit to make meaningful change for baby chicks.”
“The introduction of in-ovo sexing technology will allow specialty egg producers to create a new value-added category of more ethical eggs that will be massively successful in the market,” Robert Yaman, CEO, Innovate Animal Ag, a poultry industry think tank, said. “Cost-effective technologi-
cal solutions to major challenges like chick culling are critical to modernizing the US egg supply chain and restoring consumer trust in animal agriculture. We applaud Kipster for continuing to demonstrate their leadership in the egg industry by being one of the first producers to use this technology in the U.S.”
“Each year, at just one day old, billions of male chicks are killed without a second thought — deemed a ‘by-product’ by the egg industry,” Giovana Vieira, senior animal welfare scientist, The Humane League, said. “Years ago, The Humane League was instrumental in encouraging United Egg Producers to ban this practice that had become the standard in all commercial egg production. With alternative methods available, we’re eager to see male chick culling come to an end once and for all. We encourage all egg producers to adopt in-ovo sexing technologies like Kipster has to put a stop to this practice.”
For more information on Kipster, visit https://www.kipster.farm
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BUSINESS
CWT Farms appoints Samples as new operations manager
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — CWT Farms International announces the addition of Levi Samples as operations manager.
quality chicks and ensuring efficient poultry production. USPOULTRY’s 2025 Hatchery-Breeder Clinic is designed to keep hatchery and breeder managers informed about the latest advancements in technology, equipment and best management practices.
will tackle these challenges head-on, with sessions covering critical topics such as bacterial control in hatcheries, maximizing hatchability from transfer to pull, best practices for egg holding and transportation, performance-driven feeding strategies, biosecurity measures and more.”
Maple Leaf Foods releases integrated report on sustainability
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario —
In this role, Samples will lead warehouse operations at CWT’s Georgia facility, with oversight of the Kentucky warehouse as of May 1. He will also play a vital role in supporting the company’s Watertown hatchery by developing set plans and hatch prediction models to enhance forecasting accuracy and operational efficiency, the company noted.
“Levi’s leadership experience and creative approach to operational management will help us evolve and strengthen our warehouse procedures to better serve our customers,” Jay Daniels, CWT Farms president, said.
Samples is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he earned a bachelor of science in poultry science. He began his career with Cobb-Vantress at its Cleveland, Ga., complex. Most recently, he served as hatchery manager for CobbVantress, where he successfully led hatchery operations for more than three years, focusing on team development, biosecurity and production consistency.
The company adds that Samples’ strong industry background and innovative mindset will be essential as CWT continues to optimize supply chain operations and support sustainable growth.
USPOULTRY
Hatchery-Breeder Clinic to equip attendees with flock quality tools
TUCKER, Ga. — Effective hatchery and breeder management is essential for producing high-
This year’s program, put together by a panel of industry experts, will equip attendees with practical tools and insights to enhance performance and quality across all aspects of hatchery and breeder operations. The Clinic will be held July 8-9 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown in Nashville,Tenn.
“The primary objectives of hatchery and breeder management in poultry are to consistently produce healthy, viable chicks while promoting the long-term genetic advancement of the flock,” Chad Mason, breeder and hatchery manager at House of Raeford Farms Inc., and program planning committee chair, said. “Breeder and hatchery operations face constant pressure to optimize performance and efficiency. The 2025 Hatchery-Breeder Clinic
Other presentations include Leadership Development; Innovative Pullet Brooding Techniques; Best Management Practices for Incubating Today’s Embryo; Feeding Today’s Pullets for Overall Performance; Male Grading; and Gaining Success after Management Failures.
The 2025 USPOULTRY Hatchery-Breeder Clinic planning committee includes Chuck Doyle, Peco Foods Inc.; Chad Mason, House of Raeford and program committee chair; Ashley McGovern, CobbVantress Inc.; Richard Rutledge, Mountaire Corp.; Stephanie Smith, Peco Foods Inc.; and Dr. Kelly Sweeney, Cobb-Vantress Inc.
For more information, visit www. uspoultry.org.
Maple Leaf Foods has released its annual Integrated Report, bringing together an update on its 2024 financial performance and future outlook, as well as a holistic view of the company’s key initiatives, emphasizing its continued commitment to sustainability, shared value, and strategic growth.
“2024 was a year of meaningful financial and strategic progress for Maple Leaf Foods,” Curtis Frank, Maple Leaf Foods president and CEO, said. “Fueled by the strength of our leading brands, the resilience of our growth strategies and the financial benefits flowing from our largescale capital investments, we exited the year with strong momentum on our journey to transform Maple Leaf Foods into a purpose driven, proteinfocused, brand-led, consumer packaged goods powerhouse.”
“We also refreshed our Strategic Blueprint and evolved the strategies that will guide us toward achieving our Vision, to be the most sustainable protein company on Earth,” Frank added. “I am incredibly proud of the strides we’ve made and our many remarkable achievements which are helping us create shared value for our stakeholders.”
The report highlights Maple Leaf Foods’ leadership in sustainability, animal care, food and people safety, and its contributions to essential efforts to reduce food insecurity, the company said, adding that it tracks progress against its goals based on key pillars: Making Better Food,Taking Care of Our People, Communities, and Animals, and Nurturing a Better Planet.
Highlights include:
• Making Better Food
Maple Leaf Foods continues to lead the market with high-quality, innovative products, the company said. Its flagship brands Schneiders® and Maple Leaf® achieved the #1 and #2 lead in Packaged Meats in Canada, while Mina® earned the top spot as the #1 Halal brand in fresh poultry in Canada, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co.® the #1 brand in Sustainable Packaged Meats in Canada.
In 2024, the company launched 50 new products across its brands, including Schneiders Breakfast
Sandwiches and Schneiders Breakfast Bites. The new Schneiders breakfast products are part of Maple Leaf Foods’ broader innovation strategy as a consumer-packaged goods-driven business to create new, sustainably produced products that meet the evolving needs and preferences of consumers.
• Taking Better Care for Our People
Maple Leaf Foods completed 11 social compliance audits in 2024, and took the next steps in advancing its enhanced social compliance program. The company also successfully maintained a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.37, which is a 94 percent improvement since 2012.
•Taking Better Care for Our Communities
The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security has committed $13.3 million to 40 initiatives during the last eight years, addressing food insecurity across Canada.
In 2024, Maple Leaf Foods donated $4 million in food products in Canada and the United States. Team Members across the company volunteered in more than 33 communities, supporting local food banks, healthcare institutions, community centres, and newcomer services.
•Taking Better Care of Our Animals
Maple Leaf Foods provided 100 percent of its owned sow spaces with open sow housing according to the NFACC Code of Practice and Canadian Pork Excellence PigCARE standards.The company implemented environmental enrichment for pigs and broiler chickens and invested in humane pro-
cessing technologies, converting 99.9 percent of its chicken plants to Controlled Atmosphere Stunning.
•Taking Better Care of Our Planet
By the end of 2024, Maple Leaf Foods achieved a 5.1 percent reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 15.6 percent reduction in Scope 3 emissions intensity since the 2018 base year. The company expanded its regenerative agriculture efforts, collaborating with Nutrien for the fourth consecutive year, scaling from 19,000 to over 250,000 acres, to support growers and boost sustainability.
It also supported the Lake Winnipeg Basin Water Stewardship Project, engaging 30,000 acres across four farms to implement water stewardship practices on farms.Additionally, the company achieved a 94.1 percent company-wide landfill diversion rate, with three facilities reaching 100 percent landfill diversion.
Camp Corral and House of Raeford FLOCK set new fundraising record
ROSE HILL, N.C. — With a generous $30,000 match from House of Raeford Farms FLOCK, Camp Corral achieved a record-breaking spring 2025 fundraising total of $80,479.This is enough to send 64 children of wounded, ill,
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or fallen military heroes to a weeklong summer camp experience with other kids who understand about growing up in a challenging family environment.
As the first 2025 summer session of camp opens this week in Arizona, Camp Corral leaders are excited to welcome these kids into a program tailored to address the unique needs of these campers. Testing their limits, challenging their fears, and celebrating their accomplishments is a sampling of what these kids encounter at camp.
The words of military parents underscore just how meaningful Camp Corral is to their children:
“I hope my son can let go, be wild and free. Enjoy himself, laugh, joke, stay up late whispering with new friends. Sharing his hobbies and interests and meeting people that will become lifelong friends.”
“. . . make lasting friendships and connections with peers who understand the military lifestyle. Get a break, a much-needed mental health break, from helping with younger siblings and an older disabled sibling. Create a sense of deeper self-value and self-worth.”
“Our children have never experienced a summer camp. If they get selected, this will be their first time. We hope our children will learn some life skills such as independence, responsibility, teamwork, problem-solving, and more . . . Military life is really tough, and our children can see it.”
FLOCK has supported Camp Corral’s donor campaign since 2022, contributing a total of $94,141 over the four years.
“Two of the pillars of FLOCK are youth development and mental health, solidifying the relationship between our two organizations,” Dave Witter, a member of FLOCK’s board of directors, said. “FLOCK’s partnership with Camp Corral is fulfilling our mission of helping those who are called to do good, do more.”
“House of Raeford Farms FLOCK has, once again, given America’s military children a week of summer camp and a lifetime of memories! Their support of Camp Corral’s mission has helped to change thousands of lives for over the past several years,” Sheri Oberhelman, vice president of development and outreach at Camp Corral, said. “They
are strengthening military families one child at a time by giving them a chance to build lifelong friendships, grow in their self-confidence, realize their own strengths. On behalf of the entire Camp Corral team and the children we serve, thank you.”
Registrations for this year’s 21 summer sessions currently exceed 3,000 campers. Thanks to all those who helped our partners at Camp Corral and FLOCK provide life-changing opportunities for these kids! Because of this tremendous support, thousands of military children are finding healing, friendship, and hope — proof that every contribution truly changes lives.
To donate, visit Camp Corral at https://www.campcorral.org.
Targan and Pondex partner to bring automated sexing system to Spain
RALEIGH, N.C. — Targan, based in the U.S., has announced a strategic partnership with Pondex S.A.U., a subsidiary of Spain’s Vall Companys Group, to implement the WingScan system at its hatchery in Juneda, Spain. This marks the latest move in the growing adoption of intelligent feathersexing automation across Europe, the companies said.
The installation will allow Pondex to sex up to 1,250,000 chicks per week, powered by Targan’s advanced AI (artificial intelligence) imaging technology. WingScan is a fully automated, modular, and compact system designed to scale with the operational needs of any hatchery. Capable of processing up to 160,000 chicks per hour with more than 97 percent accuracy, it supports high-throughput operations while helping address the labor scarcity that continues to challenge the poultry industry globally, company officials said.
“Innovation is at the heart of what we do, so choosing to implement Targan’s fully automated WingScan system was a natural next step for us,” Jose Miguel Garcia Sanchez, Pondex hatchery
director, said. “We’re excited to integrate the most advanced feather-sexing technology available and expect to see meaningful improvements — from the hatchery through to the farms and meat plants.With the support of the Vall Companys Group and close collaboration with Targan, we’re confident this will positively impact our entire value chain.”
As automation continues to gain traction in hatcheries, WingScan is delivering value to both operations already performing manual sexing and those adopting it for the first time, the company said, adding that, for existing programs, it provides consistent, high-accuracy performance throughout the day while helping address the labor scarcity affecting poultry operations globally. For those introducing sexing, the system enables sex-specific rearing strategies that improve flock
uniformity and support greater yield at the plant. In both cases, WingScan enhances operational reliability while offering a more controlled and welfare-conscious approach to chick handling.
“We’ve seen tremendous interest in automated feather sexing across Europe, and the growing adoption of WingScan reflects that momentum,” Ramin Karimpour, Targan’s founder and CEO, said. “As hatcheries face growing labor shortages and mounting pressure to improve consistency and welfare at scale, solutions like WingScan are becoming essential. With the system approaching one billion birds sexed worldwide, we’re proud to support partners like Pondex as they help lead this industry shift.”
“This partnership with Pondex is more than a system installation — it’s a signal of where the industry is headed,” Vincent Fevrier,Targan’s vice president of sales and marketing–EUAFAM & Oceania, said. “By collaborating with one of Spain’s leading producers, we’re helping set a new benchmark for hatchery operations. Early adopters of WingScan are already seeing measurable gains in performance, and with additional systems and countries coming online soon, this partnership reflects the beginning of a broader transformation across Europe.”
Vall Companys Group operates across the broiler production supply chain, with more than 900 poultry farms, 10 meat plants and four incubation centers across Spain, the company added. It is focused on the integration of advanced systems that guarantee animal welfare and are key to producing premium quality poultry.
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Beesley International announces the hiring of Brett Zickert as its new director of sales for dairy and ventilation. With more than 30 years of experience in the dairy industry, Zickert brings deep expertise and a strong passion for barn design focused on cow comfort, including ventilation solutions, retrofits and new construction.
Zickert’s appointment marks Beesley International’s expansion into the dairy market and agricultural ventilation products. The company is now offering a line of dairy products, ranging from ventilation systems to headlocks.
“Brett’s unmatched experience in the dairy sector and his hands-on knowledge of ventilation and barn design will be a huge asset to our customers and team,” John Hill, Beesley International general manager, said. “His insight into the dairy industry, combined with his strong background in both product development and sales, perfectly aligns with our mission to provide innovative, farmer-focused solutions.”
A native of Rosendale, Wis., Zickert previously held positions at Agromatic Inc. from 2010 to 2024 and Redeker Dairy Equipment from 1996 to 2010, where he developed a strong reputation for delivering customized dairy ventilation and barn solutions, the company said, adding that his industry experience includes cash crop farming and custom harvesting — skills he continues to enjoy alongside his family.
Zickert and his wife, Brenda, who have been married for 20 years, have three children and are proud grandparents to five. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with family, farming with his brother and father, golfing and bartending.
El Pollo Loco continues its 50th anniversary with brand refresh
COSTA MESA, Calif. — El Pollo Loco announces a comprehensive brand refresh for this year’s 50th anniversary. The company is leaning into its passion for Fire-Grilled Chicken and is introducing a fresh look while continuing its legacy of serving convenient and quality food options to guests, officials noted.
El Pollo Loco has been transparent about its vision for a three-year brand turnaround, which
began when CEO Liz Williams took the helm in March 2024. Since then, El Pollo Loco has bolstered its leadership team bringing in Chief Development Officer Tim Welsh and Chief People Officer Bjorn Erland to join its C-Suite of Maria Hollandsworth, Ira Fills, Anne Jollay, Jill Adams and Clark Matthews. Additionally, the brand brought in a new creative agency, Innocean USA, to introduce the brand to new consumers and remind existing customers why they’ve loved El Pollo Loco for the past 50 years, the company added.
A new brand manifesto video posted to the El Pollo Loco YouTube account features the new tagline Let’s Get Loco, accompanied by narration of the brand’s origin, contrasting the difference between “loco” and “crazy” and ultimately encouraging viewers to draw inspiration from its founder and pursue their own “loco” passions, company officials noted.
Updated consumer touchpoints will include digital and in-store experiences with new color schemes, fonts and layouts, as well as the Let’s Get Loco tagline, all intended to create a unified customer experience,
El Pollo Loco said, adding that an ad campaign highlighting the new positioning and reinforcing the brand’s commitment to quality through its Fire-Grilled Chicken will appear on tv, social and digital.
“The goal of this brand refresh is to ensure people know who we are, what we stand for and what they can expect from us before they even walk through the door of a restaurant,” Jill Adams, El Pollo Loco CMO, said. “We’ve been grilling citrus marinated chicken in our restaurants for the last 50 years, and we’re excited to share
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our dedication, or should I say ‘loco’, with the world.”
The physical restaurants are also getting an update, as well. In October 2024, El Pollo Loco unveiled its new iconic restaurant prototype, showcasing a design that is both enduring and modern, the company said. The new restaurant prototype retains brand elements such as the fire stack gradient, logo, and font, while introducing an updated color palette, footprint, and materials. These enhancements establish a bold visual identity that reflects El Pollo Loco’s commitment to innovation and efficiency. More than 200 restaurants now also feature kiosks alongside cashiers for those customers who prefer a more autonomous digital ordering experience, the company added.
Dave’s Hot Chicken entering next phase of growth
committed to delivering an exceptional experience for its guests, team members and its franchise partners around the globe.
“This is one of the great entrepreneurial journeys of our time, and now we begin the next chapter in the story,” Bill Phelps, Dave’s Hot Chicken’s CEO, said. “Our entire organization is excited about the fit between Dave’s Hot Chicken and Roark, and we’re looking forward to continuing to blow our guests’ minds and unlocking growth and value for our franchise partners.”
LOS ANGELES — From a parking lot in 2017, to a global sensation which expects to end the year with more than 400 restaurants across the globe; Dave’s Hot Chicken has chosen an investment from Roark, entering its next phase of growth and innovation, the company announced.
The leadership team, who have architected the elements which have made Dave’s Hot Chicken an internationally beloved brand, will continue in their roles running the company. This includes the founders of Dave’s Hot Chicken, who began this American dream story in a parking lot almost exactly eight years ago, will continue to drive the company’s menu innovation, food quality, in-store experience, operations, marketing, branding, digital and more. A social media leader in the hospitality industry, its marketing strategy will also remain unchanged. Dave’s Hot Chicken is closing in on 6 million followers across its platforms, and hundreds of millions of views of user generated content, the company added.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has had years of unit and sales growth and leading guest satisfaction metrics, the company said, adding that it remains
Looking ahead, the Dave’s Hot Chicken team is focused on bringing the best of Dave’s Hot Chicken to guests both domestically and abroad,
with a focus on delivering for its guests every day, just as the brand has been doing since the early parking lot days in 2017.
North Point Mergers & Acquisitions served as Dave’s exclusive financial advisor. Roark is an Atlanta-based private equity firm with $40 billion in equity under management.
Popeyes rolls out new chicken wraps in three flavors
MIAMI — Popeyes® is bringing its signature flavor to summer eats with the launch of an all-
new category on their menu: Popeyes Chicken Wraps. Same legendary Louisiana flavor with a whole new twist. Wrapped, packed and made to move with you. Whether you’re cruising through errands, road tripping or hopping between meetings, Popeyes is bringing their signature crunch that you crave in a grab-and-go style that’s big on flavor and easy on the wallet, the company announced.
Each wrap is packed with a Popeyes handbreaded and battered chicken tender, crisp lettuce, shredded cheese, crunchy pickles and topped with a choice of a Classic, Spicy or Honey Mustard spread, rolled into a warm tor-
tilla inspired by the company’s famous biscuits.
Popeyes is also offering a brand-new beverage lineup of Blueberry Lemonade and Teas, just in time to cool things down for summer.
“With our new Chicken Wraps, we’ve taken our iconic chicken tenders and wrapped them in something completely new, bringing all that craveable crunch in a fresh, portable way,” Chef Amy Alarcon, Popeyes vice president of culinary innovation, said. “We wanted to create a Chicken Wrap that was undeniably Popeyes. Infusing the flavors from our famous biscuit into our wraps was the perfect way to ensure our signature flavors shined through.”
Senate Ag committee debating the ‘one big beautiful bill’
DAVID B. STRICKLAND POULTRY TIMES EDITOR
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate and its committees are now debating the budget reconciliation legislation, known as the “one big beautiful bill.” The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the bill on May 22 by a very narrow 215 to 214 margin.
U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, Forestry, says, “our farmers and ranchers are facing real challenges, which have been unaddressed for too long. This legislation delivers the risk management tools and updated farm bill safety net they need to keep producing the safest, most abundant, and affordable food, fuel, and fiber in the world. It’s an investment in rural America and
the future of agriculture.”
Those in favor of the bill have noted that it will provide tax relief needed for economic growth, while proponents have said that it will cut access to essential services and add to the national debt.
Among the services of concern is SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) that provides monthly funds for people to purchase food items. SNAP benefits are administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.
“This bill takes a commonsense approach to reforming SNAP — cutting waste, increasing state accountability, and helping recipients transition to self-sufficiency through work and training,” Boozman adds. “It’s about being good stewards of taxpayer dollars while giving folks the tools to succeed.”
The nation’s agricultural associa-
tions are also voicing their concerns and giving support to measures that will include animal health.
“Protecting animal health and ensuring effective disease response are critical to the success of American agriculture,” Leslee Oden, National Turkey Federation president and CEO, said. “As highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) continue to affect the turkey industry, now more than ever, Congress must act to protect the tools and funding necessary to bolster the United States’ response to animal disease.”
Oden added that NTF applauds the Senate Agriculture Committee and Chairman Boozman for prioritizing animal health for inclusion in the reconciliation bill. And that NTF is urging, “Congress to act swiftly in passing this legislation to protect the poultry industry’s ability to produce
healthy turkeys and provide wholesome, nutritious turkey products to consumers everywhere.”
Chad Gregory, United Egg Producers president and CEO, added that UEP, “appreciates the Senate Committee on Agriculture’s hard work to promote animal health, notably through the National Animal Disease Preparedness Program and other elements of animal disease response. At a time when the nation’s egg farmers are dealing with a years-long series of highly pathogenic avian influenza infections, the focus on animal health is critically important. UEP thanks the committee for doing hard work amid challenging circumstances.”
The Meat Institute said that it also appreciates Boozman’s, “leadership on behalf of the entire food value chain and look forward to working with him to support meat and poultry production and to ensure live-
stock and poultry producers have the tools they need to prosper.”
“Farmers across the country appreciate the work of the Senate Agriculture Committee under the leadership of Chairman John Boozman to ensure the budget reconciliation package is fiscally responsible while still supporting agriculture and rural America,” Zippy Duvall, American Farm
Bureau Federation president, said.
“From the farm safety net to investments in research and conservation, this bill shows the committee understands farmers are facing tough times. After losing an average of 77 farms per day for five years, this support will be critically important to help farmers hold-on for another season.”
“America’s 60,000+ pork pro-
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tee has also released its text for inclusion in the reconciliation bill.
The bill, “powers the economy by permanently extending critical progrowth provisions and introduces new incentives for domestic investment, providing certainty for American job creators to spur domestic economic activity and invest in their workers,”
U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Finance Committee chairman, said.
“The legislation also achieves significant savings by slashing ‘Green New Deal’ spending and targeting waste, fraud and abuse in spending programs while preserving and protecting them for the most vulnerable.”
ducers thank Chairman Boozman for fighting to include vital animal health legislation in the reconciliation legislation,” Duane Stateler, National Pork Producers Council president, said. “During these times of wild uncertainty, we strongly urge the Senate to keep these provisions in the final bill.”
The U.S. Senate Finance Commit-
Giving an opposing view, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) Finance Committee ranking member, said. “The biggest winners here are wealthy corporations who would get hundreds of billions of dollars in additional tax breaks on top of what they got in the House Republican bill … This is caviar over kids, and Mar-a-Lago over the middle class. This bill will drive the vulnerable into misery and drag down the middle class all for the benefit of the rich and powerful, a backward and punishing agenda in a country that’s supposed to provide opportunity for everyone.”
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Ohio House passes bill aimed at accurate labels for lab-grown products
DAVID B. STRICKLAND POULTRY TIMES EDITOR
DSTRICKLAND@POULTRYTIMES.COM
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio House of Representatives recently passed a bill aimed at protecting the state’s shoppers from lab-grown, or imitation meat and egg products, which may contain labels that are inaccurate.
Ohio House Bill 10 passed on June 11 and is now being sent to the state’s senate for further discussion.
Ohio state Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland), one of the bill’s co-sponsors, said, “HB 10 protects Ohio consumers by ensuring label transparency when they go to the grocery store to buy meat for their families.”
taurants across the Buckeye State.”
the label for the food implies that it includes meat or eggs without qualification.”
The Ohio bill also seeks to exclude cultivated-protein products from SNAP or WIC programs unless USDA approves the products under the programs, as well as for public schools to adopt policies that prevent cultivated-meat products or misbranded meat or egg products from purchase.
“We are taking a clear step toward transparency in food labeling and protecting Ohio’s consumers and agricultural producers,”
in turkey production, according to USDA.
For background on foods made with cultured animal cells, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration notes that, “there is a long history of scientific advances in biology, biochemistry, and engineering that have led to the innovations enabling the growth of animal cells outside of the animal itself, in a controlled environment, for food.”
“Evey Ohioan deserves to know what is in their meat,” Klopfenstein added. “I want to extend a special thanks to the hardworking Ohio farmers who supply the dinner tables, school cafeterias, and res-
A summary of the bill states that it, “specifies that food is misbranded as a meat product or egg product if certain conditions exist, including the food contains a manufactured-protein food product or fabricated-egg product and
Ohio state Rep. Jack K. Daniels (R-New Franklin), another of the bill’s co-sponsors, said. “This bill ensures that families know exactly what they’re putting on the dinner table, while supporting the integrity of our state’s meat and egg industries. I’m proud to stand with Ohio’s farmers.”
Ohio is the second largest egg producing state and ninth largest
“Manufacturers are generally working on scaling up their processes to consistently produce amounts large enough to be competitively priced,” FDA said, adding that it is working with USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service, “which shares jurisdiction over these human food products for certain animal species to ensure that they are safe and accurately labeled. Both agencies are working with manufacturers to ensure these products meet applicable FDA and USDA-FSIS requirements.”
AEB announces new key staff additions and promotion
CHICAGO — The American Egg Board announces key appointments to bolster strategic focal areas, including the hiring of Kate Karnas as director of channel marketing and Christopher Bowers as manager of consumer insights, along with the promotion of John Gallagher to an important new role.
The moves reflect the AEB’s ongoing investment in strengthening its marketing, insights, and industry engagement efforts to increase demand for eggs and egg products, the group noted.
Kate Karnas brings more than a decade of agency-side experience in food and ingredient marketing, having developed integrated campaigns for organizations including the Almond Board of California, Taylor Farms, HZPC/Potato Glory, and Griffith Foods during her time at Porter Novelli. At AEB, Karnas will oversee channel-specific campaigns and collaborate across teams to build industry partnerships and position eggs as an essential and versatile solution across applications.
“Kate’s expertise in ingredient market-
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ing, trade strategy, and brand storytelling makes her a powerful addition to our team,” Emily Metz, AEB president and CEO, said. “She understands the food industry from every angle and will help us better connect with key decision-makers. Her work will support our efforts to position eggs as a go-to solution for chefs, food manufacturers, and retailers — meeting evolving customer needs, opening new opportunities, and driving impact for America’s egg farmers.”
Karnas’s appointment reinforces AEB’s commitment to expanding its influence across food industry channels, the board said, adding that her work will enhance AEB’s ability to support egg producers through strong industry partnerships, insightdriven programs, and initiatives that grow demand in ingredient, foodservice, and retail markets domestically and internationally.
Christopher Bowers joins the AEB as manager of consumer
The moves reflect the AEB’s ongoing investment in strengthening its marketing, insights, and industry engagement efforts to increase demand for eggs and egg products, the group noted.
insights, bringing a strong background in marketing research and shopper insights. Most recently, he served as a senior account manager at Circana, where he led insight generation and strategic analysis for clients including PepsiCo. His earlier experience includes leadership roles at DS-IQ, where he supported digital shopper marketing efforts for Walmart, and at Kantar/Millward Brown in research and project management.
“Chris’s deep expertise in translating complex consumer
data into actionable insights will be instrumental in elevating our marketing strategy,” Metz said. “His ability to connect the dots between shopper behavior, industry trends, and business needs will help us build stronger connections with foodservice, retail, and manufacturing partners— and ultimately create more impact for America’s egg farmers.”
At the AEB, Bowers will support consumer insights, using research and data to guide strategic decision-making, identify growth opportunities, and help
shape the narrative of eggs as a relevant and in-demand food in every channel. Additionally, he will serve as the lead support for the AEB Newsroom — monitoring media and conversation trends and identifying emerging topics. He will also guide the development of the Newsrooms’ capabilities to support AEB’s strategic goals.
In addition to the new appointments, AEB announced a key internal promotion. John Gallagher has been promoted to associate director of industry affairs and engagement after previously serving as manager of insights. He will focus on strengthening relationships with egg producers and industry partners while leading industry engagement initiatives.
“John has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to advancing the AEB’s mission,” Metz added. “In his new role, his focus on industry initiatives and partnerships will be instrumental in strengthening our collaborations and driving demand for eggs in ways that benefit America’s egg farmers.”
Wayne-Sanderson Farms gift boosts total support to $4.1M for UGA Poultry Science Building
By Jordan Powers University of Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. — Wayne-Sanderson Farms has announced an additional $2 million donation for the new Poultry Science Building at the University of Georgia. The gift brings project support from the Georgia-based poultry producer to $4.1 million.
The combined gift will name the Poultry Science Building student lobby, a 1,300-square-foot space for students to study and network with industry partners.
“The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is continually grateful for our partnership with Wayne-Sanderson Farms, and this new gift to support our student lobby showcases their commitment to the future of the poultry industry,” Nick Place, CAES dean and director, said. “This space fosters collaboration and gives students a space to prepare for their future careers, which will ultimately serve to make Georgia’s poultry industry stronger, more resilient and successful as these students take the reins as leaders.”
Wayne-Sanderson Farms is the nation’s third-largest poultry producer, employing more than 26,000 team members and working with more than 2,000 family farms.
The company, which owns and operates 23 fresh and further-pro-
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Photo by Lavi Del Carmen Astacio / UGA
A combined gift from Wayne-Sanderson Farms will name the University of Georgia Poultry Science Building student lobby, a 1,300-square-foot space for students to study and network with industry partners.
Photo USPOULTRY
Bill
Nominations open for USPOULTRY’s 2026 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award
TUCKER, Ga. — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is accepting nominations for the 2026 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award. This award recognizes family farmers who demonstrate exceptional environmental stewardship in poultry and egg production.
Eligible nominees include family-owned poultry growers or egg producers who supply products to a USPOULTRY member or are independent producers that are USPOULTRY members. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 24.
In January 2025, the award was presented to two distinguished family farms in various regions of the country. Additionally, an award was presented to a State Poultry Association nominee. The winners were Kenneth and Elaine Nolt of Lakev-
AFIA leadership
cessing facilities throughout the Southeast, has been a longtime supporter of the CAES Department of Poultry Science, one of the top programs in the nation.
“At Wayne-Sanderson Farms, we are proud to invest in the future of agriculture and contribute to the continued strength of Georgia’s poultry industry,” Kevin McDaniel, Wayne-Sanderson Farms president and CEO, said. “This state-of-the-art facility and student
iew Poultry LLC in Versailles, Mo., and Keith and Jerri Mitchell of MBK Farms in Colcord, Okla., both nominated by Cargill. Kris and Rebecca Holden of Holden Farms in Obion County, Tenn., were the State Poultry Association’s nominators and were nominated by the Tennessee Poultry Association.
Additionally, one family was recognized as a finalist – Norbert and Susan Gabel of Gabel Farm in Galena, Mo., nominated by Cargill. Nominations for the 2026 award can be submitted by USPOULTRY members, affiliated state poultry associations, or individually by poultry and egg producers that raise poultry or produce eggs for USPOULTRY members. Each integrator or egg processor may nominate two growers or producers per processing facility in
lobby reflect the University of Georgia’s commitment to advancing poultry science, and we look forward to the enduring positive impact it will have on students, researchers and the broader industry for years to come.”
Situated on UGA’s South Campus, the 70,000-plus square-foot Poultry Science Building provides nearly double the space per student in each classroom than the previous facility, growing from roughly 17 square feet to 28 to 30 square feet per student.
Additional updates include new labs and collaborative spaces, a
each state where they operate. Previous winners must wait three years before reapplying.
“Poultry growers and egg producers keep environmental stewardship on their farms at the forefront of their sustainability efforts,” USPOULTRY Chair Jonathan Cade, Hy-Line International, said. “The dedication embodied by our award winners is worthy of celebration.”
Finalists from each region will receive a trip that includes travel expenses and hotel accommodations for two nights to attend the 2026 International Poultry Expo, part of the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE), in Atlanta, Ga. Winners and finalists will also receive a Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award sign to display on their farm, recognizing their accomplishment.
food safety intervention space where researchers can run validations of poultry processing methods to reduce common foodborne pathogens, and much-needed infrastructure updates.
“Through our campaigns, we’ve solidified and built new partnerships with many in the private sector. We are immensely thankful for the continued support from Wayne-Sanderson Farms as we prepare the next generation of leaders for the poultry industry in Georgia and beyond,” Dr. Todd Applegate, poultry science department head and R. Harold and
Regional winners will be announced at a special ceremony during the Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit, held in conjunction with IPPE, on Jan. 27, 2026. Each regional winner will receive a $1,000 cash award and will be featured on USPOULTRY’s website, with the Association assisting in promoting the award in local, regional and national media.
The application and competition details are available on the USPOULTRY website at https://www.uspoultry.org/programs/environment/ffeeaward/.
For more information on the 2026 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award competition, contact Paul Bredwell at pbredwell@uspoultry.org or by telephone at 678-514-1973.
Patsy Harrison Chair in Poultry Science, said.
The Poultry Science Building was made possible through a $54.1 million public-private partnership, with half of the funding goal allocated by the Georgia legislature and equipment assistance from a federal grant. Additional private and industry support combine with public funding to uphold UGA as the global epicenter of poultry science.
To learn more about the Poultry Science Building project, visit https:// poultrybuilding.caes.uga.edu.
USPOULTRY recognized three Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award winners during the International Poultry Expo, part of the 2025 IPPE. Pictured are, left to right, USPOULTRY Chair Jonathan Cade, Hy-Line International; Mikell Fries, Claxton Poultry Farms and past USPOULTRY chair; Kris and Rebecca Holden, Holden Farms, State Poultry Association Nominee winner; Jerry and Keith Mitchell, MBK Farms, Southwest Region winner; Kenneth and Elaine Nolt, Lakeview Poultry LLC, South Central Region winner; and USPOULTRY Vice Chair
Griffith, Peco Foods.
VPF presents retired ag teacher, Wayne Cupp, youth education programs award
HARRISONBURG, Va. — The Virginia Poultry Federation has presented retired agricultural education teacher Wayne Cupp with its prestigious Eddie Mason Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations for support of poultry youth educational programs.
VPF notes that it established the award in 1997 to honor the late Eddie Mason, a former poultry industry executive, for his extraordinary dedication and service to poultry youth programs.
“This year’s award winner is known not only to the youth that are here today, but to many of the adults as his contributions stretch for many years,” Elizabeth Myers, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and VPD Youth Committee chair, said during the award presentation at the recent VPF annual Poultry Youth Day at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.
Cupp, a 1962 graduate of Virgin-
ia Tech with a degree in agricultural education, earned his master’s degree and began his 40-year teaching career, which included service in Augusta County at Riverheads High School and in Rockingham County at Montevideo High School, and subsequently Spotswood High School. During his teaching career, he coached several state-winning poultry judging teams and continued coaching after his retirement in 2003. In 2024, he coached the 4-H State Poultry Team that placed seventh in the National Contest in Louisville, Ky. In addition to coaching, Cupp has served as the chair of the Rockingham County Fair Market Animal Committee in support of the fair’s annual youth livestock auction.
“Youth educational programs are a cornerstone of the Federation’s mission,” Hobey Bauhan, VPF president, said. “Wayne Cupp has devoted much of his life to fostering in young people the leader-
ship and values that have kept agriculture and poultry vibrant and strong in Virginia.”
During VPF’s Annual Youth Day, about 200 FFA and 4-H youth, ranging in age from 10 to 18, participated in poultry judging contests and educational activities related to the poultry industry. The conven-
tion is a collaboration among VPF, Virginia Tech’s School of Animal Science, and VDACS Poultry and Egg Marketing Section.
VPF’s Youth Committee also awarded industry scholarships, totaling $10,000 to Virginia Tech poultry science students for the academic year 2025-2026.
Bob Johnson inducted into N.C. Poultry Science Hall of Fame
ROSE HILL, N.C. — Robert C. (Bob) Johnson, CEO and owner of House of Raeford Farms, was inducted into the North Carolina Poultry Science Hall of Fame on April 25. He joins his grandfather, Nash Johnson (1977), and father, E. Marvin Johnson (1998), in receiving this distinguished recognition.
The North Carolina Poultry Federation has represented the poultry industry in North Carolina since 1968. Serving producers and processors of chicken, turkey and egg products, the Federation provides a united voice for the industry with government, media, and the public. Since 1975 the Federation has recognized poultry industry pioneers and leaders through induction into the Hall of Fame.
Under Bob Johnson’s leadership, House of Raeford has consistently been one of the 10 largest chicken producers nationally. The organization also ranks as one of the leading revenue producing companies in North Carolina, the company noted.
Johnson has taken an active leadership role in the poultry industry serving on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Poultry Federation, the National Chicken Council, and the International Poultry and Egg Association.
He also strongly believes in giving back to the communities where House of Raeford has operations through monetary and product donations as well as personal involvement, the company said, adding that, as part of this outreach, his vision spearheaded the founding of House of Raeford Farms FLOCK (Faithful Love Offering for Christ’s Kingdom) in 2009, a non-profit charitable organization focused on youth development, feeding the hungry, and support for mental health and addiction recovery programs.
In accepting the honor, Johnson thanked the Federation for this distinction and shared some personal thoughts.
“As I look at this list of Hall of Fame inductees, I see so many that I have admired over the years,” Johnson said. “Especially my grandfather Nash and my father. I learned so much from them including to always do the right thing. Something I try to live by each day.”
Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was J. Walter
(Gator) Pelletier III who began his career with Goldsboro Milling Co. in 1981, rising to president of the organization in 2014. When the company purchased its interest in Butterball operations in 2006, Pelletier continued to invest his time, expertise, and leadership skills into this new business venture. He continues to serve on Butterball’s Board of Directors.
Continuing the legacy of the Johnson family, Bob Johnson’s son, Cowan Johnson, currently serves as president of the NCPF and president of House of Raeford’s Ready-to-Cook and Further Processing Divisions and Sales.
“Today, we gather to celebrate the incredible contributions of two outstanding individuals who have made lasting impacts on the poultry industry,” Cowan Johnson shared at the recent induction ceremony. “Their dedication, leadership, and tireless efforts have shaped not only the success of their respective companies but have also influenced the growth and development of the entire industry here in North Carolina.”
House of Raeford noted that four generations of the Johnson family have served the employees and customers of the company since 1955. With Bob Johnson at the helm, the company is poised for continued growth and impact in communities across the southeast, awaiting the fifth generation to come aboard.
“As I look at this list of Hall of Fame inductees, I see so many that I have admired over the years. Especially my grandfather Nash and my father. I learned so much from them...”
Bob Johnson, Owner and CEO of House of Raeford Farms
Photo House of Raeford
Bob Johnson, owner and CEO of House of Raeford Farms, was recently inducted into the North Carolina Poultry Federation’s North Carolina Poultry Science Hall of Fame. Johnson, second from left, was joined by several members of his family for the induction ceremony, including his children, left to right, Cowan Johnson, Carol Luanne Johnson Sholar and Nash Julian Johnson.
Texas A&M University’s poultry judging team wins fifth consecutive title
By Karn Dhingra Texas A&M University
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — With a fifth straight team championship, the Texas A&M University Collegiate Poultry Judging Team in the Department of Poultry Science continues to build a strong legacy.
There are only two collegiate poultry judging contests each year: the USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest, hosted by Mississippi State University, and the National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest, hosted by the University of Arkansas.
The Texas A&M team recently won its second straight title at the 76th USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest, and during the fall season, the team earned its third consecutive win at the National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest.
With national wins in both fall and spring contests for multiple years running, the department continues to develop talent and skills that not only sweep the competition but translate directly into poultry industry leadership.
“These students are successful because they’re prepared,” Brett Meisinger, poultry judging team coach and lecturer in the department, said. “They’re learning practical, high-level skills that employers value.
The contests are indicative of the fluctuations with the USDA and consumer demands, Meisinger added.
“As the industry evolves, the judging contests adapt to those changes,” Meisinger said. “So, by the time students leave our program, they’re not just good evaluators, they’re ready to be leaders in the poultry industry.”
Students judge their way to real-world roles
The team’s foundation is Texas A&M’s longestablished poultry judging program and course. Students meet multiple times each week to train with materials provided by local industry partners.
“We have former students at nearly every poultry complex in the state who are more than willing to connect our students with materials and mentorship to help them succeed,” Meisinger noted.
Additionally, team members are often employed by the department to host and officiate youth poultry judging events statewide.
“Teaching others solidifies your knowledge,” Meisinger said. “When students can explain the why, not just the what, they’re ready for both officiating contests and their future careers.”
Meisinger emphasized how the competition
Photo: Amanda Webb / Texas A&M AgriLife
During the 2024-2025 school year, the Texas A&M University Poultry Judging Team won the national judging championships at the USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest and the National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest.
prepares students for real-world roles.
“One of my favorite aspects of this contest is the wide range of industry-relevant skills it covers,” he said. “From selecting breeder birds to improve genetic lines to evaluating laying hens for table egg production to applying USDA grading criteria for meat and eggs, students walk away with tools they can immediately use in their careers.”
Beyond technical knowledge, the program also cultivates the next generation of judging coaches.
“Some of our students plan to return to their communities and coach their own poultry judging teams through 4-H and FFA,” Meisinger added. “I’m excited to see them take on those roles and watch their first teams compete in the years ahead.”
Consistency, culture and champions
Meisinger said the team this spring reflects the depth of Texas A&M’s talent pipeline. While students are only allowed to judge for one year, many previous team members stay on to assist in coaching the next team or outreach, gaining leadership experience early on in their college career.
The team’s culture of excellence is just as important as technical knowledge, Meisinger said.
“Every team brings its own uniqueness and energy,” he noted. “This group was particularly driven; they enjoyed challenging each other and me during practices. That kind of culture not only creates champions, but also confident and competent professionals.”
For many team members, poultry judging has been a part of their lives for years. Their success in 4-H and FFA can often be traced back
to early experiences with the Department of Poultry Science at summer camps or judging clinics, making their continued involvement especially meaningful.
“Our department has followed many of these students throughout their middle and high school careers. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them carry that momentum into collegiate competition and achieve continued success,” Mesinger said.
Fall 2024 team members
The champion team members and their field of study in the fall at the National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest were:
• Reagan Barnett ’26, poultry science, overall high point individual honors at the National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest.
• Kailey Kulhanek ’26, poultry science.
• Jaime Hahn ’27, poultry science.
• Karsyn Murray ’25, agricultural science.
• Assistant coaches for the team were Cheyenne Pinkerton ’26, poultry science and animal science, and Naomi Boysen ’25, poultry science and animal science.
Spring team members
Team members earning the championship in the USPOULTRY Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest this spring were:
• Barnett, overall high point individual honors at the Ted Cameron contest.
• Kulhanek.
• Hahn.
• Madison Perkins ’27, poultry science.
• Katelyn Meister ’26, poultry science and animal science.
• Brady Davis ’25, poultry science.
Pinkerton also served as the assistant coach.
Pilgrim’s donates $100K to Mississippi State’s feed mill construction
Mississippi State University Poultry Science
STARKVILLE, Miss.— Pilgrim’s Pride has donated a major gift toward constructing a new poultry feed mill facility at Mississippi State University. The company’s $100,000 gift marks another chapter in demonstrating its longstanding relationship with the university’s poultry science department.
Pilgrim’s — which also partners with MSU for internship and mentoring programs — produces fresh, frozen and value-added products from its operations across 14 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K. and Europe. The company likewise supports MSU through involvement in courses, advisory boards and primary sponsorship of the poultry science department’s annual crawfish boil and tailgate.
“Pilgrim’s is proud of our role in the development of the new Mississippi State University Feed Mill,” Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s CEO, said. “We have a strong, longstanding partnership with the MSU poultry science department, and we look forward to continued support of the next generation of poultry professionals and the advancement of our industry overall.”
The university’s existing feed mill has served the department since
“Pilgrim’s is proud of our role in the development of the new Mississippi State University Feed Mill.”
Fabio Sandri, Pilgrim’s CEO
1979. Plans for the new mill, located on its current site at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station’s H.H. Leveck Animal Research Center, or South Farm, include an updated exterior, increased facility footprint and addition of a pelleting line. The project is slated to begin next year.
“Feed and feed manufacturing accounts for roughly 60 to 70 percent of total operational costs for poultry producers. Proper nutrition is critical to overall health, growth and production,” Kelley Wamsley, MSU associate professor of poultry science, said.
“The pellet mill will enhance our research capacity while also providing hands-on experience for our students and complementing our other commercially relevant facilities, allowing students to truly learn about the industry from farm to fork.”
The feed mill also will help support the department’s recent growth in faculty, along with a newly approved curriculum to provide further education in feed manufacturing. This curriculum represents the department’s continued support of the
“This is investing in the future of poultry science, the future of the industry and feeding the world.”
Kelley Wamsley, MSU associate professor of poultry science
industry, with a 2024 MSU survey demonstrating 96 percent of poultry industry respondents indicated a need for feed mill curriculum for college students and a desire for a facility to assist with training new employees.
“By equipping students with practical knowledge and real-world experience in feed manufacturing, we’re training the next generation of industry professionals — many of whom will likely become valued members of the Pilgrim’s Pride team,” Will Staggers, director of development for MSU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said.
“This is not just an investment in the brick and mortar for another building — it is much more than
that,” Wamsley added. “This is investing in the future of poultry science, the future of the industry and feeding the world.”
Since 1948, MSU’s poultry science graduates, including many employed by Pilgrim’s today, have seen a 100 percent job placement rate. This feed mill will ensure that MSU’s poultry science department — one of only six standalone departments in the U.S. — will continue to offer future graduates the education and training to lead the industry for generations to come.
For more information about MSU’s Department of Poultry Science, visit www.poultry.msstate.edu.
Photo by David Ammon / MSU Mississippi State University’s poultry science program is benefiting from a gift from Pilgrim’s Pride. The company’s recent $100,000 gift supports the construction of a new poultry feed mill facility at the university, equipping students with practical knowledge and real-world experience in feed manufacturing.
