The University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences dedicated its new Poultry Science Building during a ceremony on October 6.
“The University of Georgia is a land-grant institution that serves our entire state through teaching, research, and service, and UGA’s strong relationship with the poultry industry exemplifies this land-grant mission,” President Jere W. Morehead said. “The new Poultry Science Building that we are dedicating today represents what is possible when private donors and government, industry, and university leaders all work together to advance agriculture and higher education in our state.”
In addition to state and federal funding, private donations supported the $54.1 million facility.
The building will be the new home of the Department of poultry science and features modern labs, collaborative meeting spaces, and classrooms with advanced technology.
During the ceremony, Morehead announced one of those spaces would be dubbed the “Abit Massey Classroom,” named after the UGA alumnus and president emeritus of the Georgia Poultry Federation.
“This gorgeous, new Poultry Science Building will be a home away from home for many of us here,” senior poultry science major Sage Barlow said.“It will be a place of learning and discovery, a place where students spend long hours studying and conducting research to advance the industry, and a place that brings together members of the agriculture community and our department.”
The university said in a press release that the 70,000-square-foot facility is an investment in its students and the poultry industry as a whole.
“At UGA, we have been conducting transformational poultry research, instruction, and extension outreach for decades — research that has changed the way the poultry industry operates, instruction that equips the next generation of leaders like Sage, and outreach that supports industry and producers at all levels, from the individual to the corporation,” Nick Place, CAES dean and director said. “I look forward to our work together as we continue to show the world that here in Athens, Georgia, UGA and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are leading the way in poultry science.”
Governor Brian Kemp was in attendance at the ceremony was and expressed excitement for the facility.
“We know the prosperity of our agriculture industry is not just essential for our farming families, it’s essential for our state’s economic success. Not only is agriculture our largest industry, but Georgia is the top poultry-producing state in the United States,” Kemp said. “That accomplishment is made possible by the incredible work done by the UGA poultry science department faculty, staff, and students, who for years have made this program a powerful resource to our poultry producers. To secure that continued success, our state and this university have invested in this new facility that will serve as a home to cutting-edge advancements for both agriculture and poultry science.”
