Just Hatched DEPARTMENT OF P OULTRY SCIENCE | AUBURN UNIVERSIT Y | FALL 2017 NEWSLE T TER | VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2
A LETTER FROM OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD, DONALD CONNER Our faculty, staff and students have been heavily engaged in a wide range of teaching, research and extension work… locally and globally. One of the highlights for me has been my interactions with 2+2 students from our partner community colleges. I am very excited about the opportunities that these students, really ALL of our students, have as they progress though the program and embark on their careers. As I speak to students, I always point to these opportunities and how we strive to provide an outstanding educational experience to prepare them for lifelong success. Throughout this newsletter, I hope you will see how we are working hard to recruit, retain and place students into the food and poultry industry. You will also get a glimpse of the impact that our faculty, staff, students…. and alumni are making in Alabama and beyond. Another highlight for me is seeing our alumni doing so well in their career pursuits. It is always great having our alumni back on campus. In a short newsletter we cannot cover all of the great things going on. One great thing is the continuing development of the Charles C. Miller, Jr. Poultry Research and Education Center. The new facilities completed earlier this year are enhancing all of our missions, and the Center’s administration building is now under construction. Over the coming months we will be planning for the full build out of the Center, and will keep you posted.
FALL 2017 EL ANCO GRADUATE SEMINAR SCHOL AR NAMED BRIT TANY SINGH, a
graduate student pursuing her M.S. in Food Science, was named the department’s Fall 2017 Elanco Graduate Seminar Scholar.
Brittany Singh is currently pursuing her Masters of Science in Food Science at Auburn University. This fall her presentation, “Necrotic enteritis in poultry” earned her the Fall 2017 Elanco Graduate Seminar Scholar Award. The Elanco Graduate Seminar Scholar Award was established to recognize excellence on the part of graduate students who present as part of the Department of Poultry Science’s Graduate Seminar series. Each semester, all poultry or food science students who present at the seminar are eligible for the award. The award includes $500, made possible through a donation from Elanco Animal Health. Singh is active in the department, and is currently the Food Science Club’s secretary. “I am looking forward to graduating,” Singh says, “I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned here to future career positions in the industry.”
2+2 TRANSFER STUDENTS, from Wallace State
Community College visited campus November 7th, 2017.
We sincerely believe in doing our best to meet our mission of advancing the poultry and food industry in Alabama and beyond, and are working hard to be the best poultry and food science program around. Your continuing support is helping make this vision a reality, so Thank You! From all of us in the Department we wish you the very best for the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, and as always, WAR EAGLE!
Heading to Atlanta for
IPPE 2018?
If you’re heading to Atlanta, Georgia for the 2018 IPPE conference, be sure to stop by our booth for light refreshments, great conversations with faculty and staff, and some orange-and-blue giveaways.
VISIT US AT
BOOTH B5
ON HALL B CONCOURSE Don E. Conner Department Head & Professor
(2ND LEVEL)
GRADUATE STUDENTS SHOWCASE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCES IN EPORTFOLIOS In August 2017 two graduate students, Meredith Johnson and Avery Smith, participated in the study abroad student exchange trip with Zamorano University in Honduras. Their week-long exchange trip involved work at a fruit processing plant, dairy plant, post-harvest plant and a meat processing plant. At each of these plants, the students were involved in two work sessions where they evaluated the facilities and contributed to ongoing projects. Their experience in Honduras was both professional and cultural, as the students found themselves immersed in the foreign language and customs from the moment their plane landed. These students were encouraged to collect their experiences in both photos and writing, and to self-publish them in a way that showcased their trip. For this, they turned to ePortfolios. Auburn University’s ePortfolio initiative has been incorporated by the department since 2014. As the office of University writing puts it, “The heart of the ePortfolio Project is the learning that happens as students revisit and reconsider their Auburn experience for a real audience.” These students did just that. “The city around us was similar to what
AVERY SMITH AND MEREDITH J OHNSON,
documented their study abroad experiences with Zamorano University in Honduras using ePortfolios.
I had envisioned, but there really is no substitute for seeing it in person,” wrote Smith on her ePortfolio, “ the natural beauty here is absolutely breathtaking, and like any city, this one bustles with the hum of many people living and working in the same place.” With photos, reflections and candid thoughts about the trip the ePortfolio enabled these students to really show-off their involvement in a three dimensional way, and deliver that to others in real-time. To learn more about Auburn’s ePortfolio project, visit wp.auburn.edu/writing/ eportfolio-project. You can find Johnson and Smith’s ePortfolios featured at poul.auburn. edu/student-life/poultry-eportfolios.
WOMEN IN POULTRY: THREE YOUNG ALUMNAE VISIT AUBURN ’ S POULTRY SCIENCE CLUB By Jamie Creamer with Ashley Wiskirchen
In the midst of Auburn University’s “125 Years of Auburn Women” celebration, the Poultry Science Club hosted three successful young Department of Poultry Science alumnae who now work at Aviagen were back on campus in October. The three, accompanied by 1997 department alumnus Jeremy Martin, director of Aviagen’s quality assurance department, were Clara Goldman, a 2014 graduate of the program, 2015 alumna Kasey Blore and 2016 graduate Karri Fievet. The club frequently hosts industry representatives as part of its professional development benefits for members. These representatives present their work, discuss industry trends and provide advice and support as students think about their careers beyond graduation. As quality assurance director, Martin, who has been with Aviagen for almost 20 years, offered tips on interview preparation and discussed hot topics within the industry and how to move up within a company after being hired. The club recognized Goldman, Blore and Fievet—all of whom are former Auburn Poultry Science Club presidents—as young, influential alumnae who have trail blazed new paths for themselves and other women in the industry post-graduation. During her time at as club president, Goldman was extremely instrumental in the Poultry Science Club’s recognition as Club of the Year at the 2014 International Production
Department enrollment
BY THE NUMBERS
15
Freshmen were welcomed this fall along with
transfer students, setting a new record for our department!
3
14
Students are majoring in our IFT accredited Food Science major, which now stands alone.
14 students have chosen to major in the Poultry Science production track.
12
14
Students are majoring in the Poultry Science Pre-Vet and Professional track.
13 of our new students are male.
16 of our new students are female.
AUBURN P OULTRY ALUMNI
(From left) Jeremy Martin (‘97), Kasey Blore (‘15), Karri Fievet (‘16) and Clara Goldman (‘14) represent Aviagen an Auburn Poultry Science Club meeting.
and Processing Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. Goldman now serves Aviagen as their Quality Assurance Coordinator for the Pedigree Division. “The opportunities in Aviagen and the industry are endless, and I feel so lucky to be a part of it,” she says. In her position, she has had the opportunity to travel internationally as an Aviagen representative. Blore, who was hired by Aviagen after graduating in 2015, now serves as the quality assurance coordinator at Aviagen’s Egg Distribution Center in Elkmont. She is responsible for investigating current procedures and analyzing data to improve processes at the facility. “As a woman in poultry, even though I’m a recent graduate and recent hire at Aviagen, I feel like the opportunities within the company are amazing, both for men and women,” she said. Fievet agreed.
“Sure, there are some adversities, there are with any job, but being confident and direct in a friendly way helps to build a relationship with co-workers,” she said. “If you show you know your stuff, you earn the same respect as any other person there.” Fievet is Aviagen’s international standards of operations, or ISO, internal auditor and is responsible for managing the quality management system and conducting internal audits at company facilities to ensure Aviagen’s standards are being met efficiently. All four visitors from Aviagen gave club members advice and perspective on getting involved inside and outside the classroom, networking and building relationships with working members of the industry, and trying new things academically and professionally. Find more on Aviagen at en.aviagen.com and more on Auburn’s 125 Years of Auburn Women program at www.alumni.auburn.edu/women.
NEW DEPARTMENT ORG ANIZ ATION EMPOWERS AUBURN STUDENTS TO A SSIST IN RECRUITING EFFORTS In Spring of 2017 the Poultry Science Student Recruiters group was founded by Academic Advisor, Codi Plaster. This fall the group of 10 members, all upperclassmen, will travel to student recruiting events, host on-campus recruiting visits and serve as student leaders at University-wide recruiting events. This student group expands poultry science recruiting efforts by delegating travel responsibilities, and connecting potential poultry and food science students with students enrolled currently at Auburn University. The first major recruiting event as a student group took place over the summer, as students assisted with Camp War Eagle sessions. This fall, the PSSR participated in offcampus visits at high schools and community colleges, and got involved in on-campus recruiting events at the department including the Fall BBQ and Transfer Student Day. In the spring, Plaster expects these student recruiters will be integral to providing engaging and informative experiences at FFA career development events and the district & state poultry judging contests. “The Poultry Science Student Recruiters
help on and off campus is incredibly valuable to our department,” Plaster says, “It enables me to train capable students to be the ‘hands and feet’ of the department and share their personal experiences with the students they are presenting to.” As Plaster’s responsibilities have shifted to include academic advising alongside student recruitment, having student recruiters allows programs that have been around for several years to continue, and new programs to evolve. At the core, this student group allows Plaster to focus on advising and cast a larger strategic vision for recruiting students in the future. “The best student recruiters are focused on their educational and career goals and have a passion for some part of the poultry and food industries,” Plaster says, “Those students enjoy telling other people why they love Auburn and can share their personal story of the ‘how and why’ behind their chosen major.” She continues, “That story telling ability makes these students perfect ambassadors to speak with peers and high school students about the opportunities here at Auburn.”
“The best student recruiters have a passion for some part of the poultry and food industries and telling other people why they love Auburn.”
2+2 TR ANSFER STUDENTS FROM G ADSDEN STATE COMMUNIT Y COLLEGE VISIT C A MPUS On Monday October 23, 8 students and 2 staff members from the Gadsden State Community College 2+2 Poultry Science Program traveled from Northern Alabama to Auburn University’s for an overnight campus visit. During the visit, students sat in on a Poultry Production class, toured the Animal and Poultry Nutrition Center (feed mill) at the Charles C. Miller Junior Poultry Research & Education Center, and attended an Auburn Poultry Science Club meeting. On their second day, they met with student coordinators at Comer Hall, heard about the Food Science & Poultry Science opportunities on campus, toured “Ag Hill” and visited the Meats Lab. Brett Bobo, a first semester junior in Poultry Production is the first student to transfer to Auburn through the Gadsden State 2+2 program. He spoke with the visiting students over lunch to share his transfer experiences with them. During the feed mill tour, Department Head Dr. Donald Conner and Poultry Science Student Recruiter Casey Reagan gave in-depth explanations of their programs and facilities. Poultry Science alumna, Dana Bennett, along with State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier spoke to the transfer students at the Poultry Science Club meeting. After enjoying their first full day on campus, Gadsden students settled in for the night in town. On Tuesday, while meeting with student coordinators, advisors and recruiters on campus, the students covered transfer coursework, curriculum, transfer time-lines,
Our faculty travel
ACROSS THE GLOBE EDINBURGH , SCOTL AND
G ADSDEN S TATE CHEROKEE 2+2 students came to Auburn for an overnight campus visit in October 2017.
internship and job opportunities, and oncampus employment positions. Gadsden State Community College Cherokee campus Enrollment Specialist, Amanda Martin, who accompanied the students on their visit commented on the student’s positive experiences at the visit. “The students really enjoyed the whole trip and came back excited to continue the 2+2 program,” she noted, “They really enjoyed touring with the Ag Ambassadors, hearing information about transferring and touring the meats lab.” Dr. Luanne Hayes, Gadsden State CC Cherokee’s Campus Director, echoed Martin’s comments. “Our students enjoyed every minute of their trip to Auburn, and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the career paths in poultry science,” she added, “We love working with you and look forward to sending many more students to Auburn!”
XXth World Veterinary Poultry Association Congress “This was a unique opportunity to learn about poultry diseases around the world, network with professionals and meet and catch up with German and European colleagues and friends.” - Dr. Reudiger Hauck
QUEENS TOWN , NEW ZE AL AND
The 6th International Broiler Nutritionist’s Conference “This ‘invitation only’ conference is one of the premier conferences in the area of poultry nutrition in the world. I presented, ‘Minimising protein; How far down the essential amino acid list do we go?’” - Dr. William Dozier
TEGUCIG ALPA , HONDUR A S
Cultivating the student exchange program with Zamorano University “Our partnership with Zamorano continues to flourish as new students join us in our research and instruction efforts.” - Dr. Wilmer Pacheco
GUADAL A JAR A , MEXICO
25th Latin American Poultry Congress “This Poultry Industry conference drew about 3,000 attendees on September 26-29, 2017 in Guadalajara Mexico. Myself and Drs. Bill Dozier and Dianne Bourassa were invited to speak.” - Dr. Donald Conner
This fall our department hosted its annual Fall BBQ at the Ag Heritage Park Pavilion, and participated in the 2017 Ag Roundup event at the College of Agriculture.