Tennessee Tech University (TTU) celebrated the grand opening of its Poultry Science Research Center on Dec. 2, 10 years after the initial discussions with the Tennessee Poultry Association (TPA) and other industry partners. The center is designed for students obtaining degrees at the College of Agriculture and Human Ecology and will help them gain skills in management and leadership in food production, safety, dietetics, families, and farming. Students will be able to begin utilizing the facility in the spring of 2023.
“We are celebrating this state-of-the-art facility because of the key partnerships we have created over the years,” says Phil Oldham, TTU president. “The research center is a prime example of what we can do together versus working alone.”
Located on the TTU Shipley Farm, the center is 200 feet long and encompasses two houses at 3,340-square-feet each. There are also 2,000-square-feet that separate the two houses. This area contains an office, bathrooms, shower space, an abattoir and processing area, and a laboratory. There is also a walk-in refrigerator and freezer.
“When faculty have the opportunity to have world-class research facilities to do scholarly work, it drives discovery of knowledge,” says TTU Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Lori Bruce. “It also directly impacts the experience Tech students have because they get the advantage of participating in research, but also the faculty are being practitioners of their discipline.”
The center was funded by the Drive to 55 Capacity Fund Grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, with additional funding for equipment by the Appalachian Region Commission, Tyson Foods, and Cumberland Poultry. Several industry partners provided the support to acquire funding, including the Tennessee Poultry Association, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and the Tennessee Farm Bureau.
“I am excited about this new facility,” says TPA Executive Director Dale Barnett. “Several TTU graduates are currently working in the poultry industry, and this center and program will continue to amplify students and prepare them for full-time roles.”
Barnett also says that this program will help future applicants gain hands-on experience to fill high-paying poultry positions in Tennessee.
Dr. Victoria Ayres, an assistant professor at the Tennessee Tech School of Agriculture, is managing the new center and will provide knowledge about health and nutrition to students in the program. She has her doctorate in feed manufacturing and poultry nutrition from West Virginia University.
“Industries want people with an agricultural background because they bring grit, loyalty, and a strong work ethic,” says Cookeville Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Amy New. “I’m proud that we are helping develop future leaders at TTU.”
The grand opening event was followed by a ceremony in which the laboratory was named the Aviagen Poultry Science Laboratory. Aviagen is an industry leader in broiler genetics. Naming opportunities are available in other parts of the Poultry Science Research Center.
“This facility will bring the opportunity for students to learn about nutrition and ventilation, animal welfare, and statistics,” says Dr. Dennis Fennewald, associate professor in the School of Agriculture. “Our students will be able to learn skills and knowledge they can take into the industry upon graduation.”
For more information, contact Dr. Victoria Ayres at vayres@tntech.edu or 931-372-6134 or visit https://www.tntech.edu/cahe/ag/tech-farms/poultry-center.php.