Fresno State President John D. Welty joined Foster Farms CEO Ron Foster and others today for the dedication of the Foster Farms Poultry Education and Research Facility. A unit of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences, this state-of-the-art poultry facility is the first in the nation to receive certification from American Humane AssociationTM (AHA).

The 16,320 square-foot building houses an eco-friendly research and training center that replicates professional poultry production for more than 500 students in the Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education department. It features advanced temperature control, monitoring and feed delivery systems.

The building was made possible by a gift to Fresno State from Foster Farms. They contributed the engineering, design and construction of the facility, and will also provide ongoing program support.

“The partnership with Foster Farms opened the door to this extraordinary facility where students will learn best practices and work with faculty to conduct research to advance poultry science and the future of the industry,” said President Welty.

During the dedication, Foster Farms also announced that its fresh chicken products have earned certification from American Humane Association.The American Humane CertifiedTM (AHC) program, developed in 2000, is the nation’s first independent, third-party humane certification program for farm animals.

“While the actual certification is a new development for us, our commitment to raising chickens humanely has always been important to our company,” said Foster Farms CEO Ron Foster. “It is the right thing to do for our birds and we know that it is important to consumers.”

AHA’s farm animal welfare certification program was the first of its kind to classify standards for the humane treatment of farm animals. The American Humane CertifiedTM program now works with more than 100 major producers, representing approximately 7,000 farms.

Dr. Charles Boyer, dean of the Jordan College, says AHA certification speaks to Fresno State’s commitment to providing pioneering education in Animal Sciences. “Our students graduate with a deep understanding of the importance of animal welfare. This new facility aligns perfectly with the values of our program while enabling students to gain hands-on experiences that will prepare them for jobs in one of the fastest growing fields in agriculture.”

The Foster Farms Poultry Education and Research Facility is located on the Fresno State farm, north of Barstow Avenue west of the dairy unit (between Sierra Vista and Woodrow avenues).

Based in the Central California, Foster Farms is one of the state’s leading providers of fresh chickens and turkeys.

The addition of the poultry facility at Fresno State builds upon a long-time relationship with the company. Foster Farms actively recruits Fresno State graduates and has a steady base of students participate in the company’s internship program each year.

For more information, contact Kathleen Schock at 559.278.2756 or kschock@csufresno.edu.

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