On May 17, 2025, the Texas A&M AgriLife Poultry Extension Unit welcomed nearly 200 attendees, including youth exhibitors, their families, and agriculture educators, to the Market Poultry Workshop held at the Louis Pearce Pavilion on Texas A&M's campus.

Attendees at Market Poultry Workshop listen to Micah Osborn present on culling and bird selection
Micah Osburn, Ralco Nutrition, presents at the 2025 Market Poultry Workshop

Empowering Youth

The full-day workshop offered an in-depth look into all phases of poultry show preparation and included live demonstrations, expert-led sessions, and interactive Q&A opportunities.

“This event is all about setting youth up for success,” said Stephanie Klein, Extension Program Specialist. “Whether they’re brand new to poultry projects or have been showing for years, we focus on teaching the why behind each management practice so they walk away more confident and informed.”

Topics covered during the workshop included how to set up appropriate housing for market poultry projects, the role of lighting in promoting healthy growth, and best practices for nutrition and feeding throughout the project. Attendees also learned about wing band management, how to identify and select high-quality birds for competition, and the importance of biosecurity and proactive health monitoring to prevent disease and ensure animal welfare.

Building Skills and Shaping Futures

Workshops like these are a vital part of AgriLife Extension’s commitment to youth agricultural education, helping foster responsibility, critical thinking, and animal care ethics in the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Youth attendees with turkeys learn bird selection techniques
Youth attendees with turkeys learn bird selection techniques

"We’re not just teaching kids how to raise poultry, we’re building a foundation for lifelong learning and leadership in agriculture. These experiences are where agricultural education really comes to life”, said Klein.

Each year, the Texas A&M Poultry Extension Unit bands and distributes nearly 200,000 broiler chicks and 20,000 turkey poults to support youth projects across the state. These efforts serve more than 400 FFA chapters and 4-H organizations, reinforcing AgriLife Extension’s commitment to hands-on agricultural education.

Participation in poultry projects often serves as a gateway to higher education. Many youth are introduced to the Texas A&M Department of Poultry Science through these experiences, a department that proudly holds a 100% job placement rate for graduates and boasts the largest undergraduate enrollment of any poultry science program in the nation.

The Market Poultry Workshop is a key piece of that pipeline, helping students build the practical skills and knowledge they need to succeed, not just in the show ring, but in future careers across animal agriculture, veterinary medicine, food production, and beyond.

Representatives of TAMU poultry science at a recruiting booth
(left to right) Joshua Ratnayeke, current poultry science student and APA, Travis Zipp, current poultry science student and APA, and Amanda Webb, Program Coordinator, engaged with attendees about opportunities within the Texas A&M Department of Poultry Science
poultry science student teaches youth about poultry industry with live chicks and diagrams
Cooper Sutton, current poultry science student and PEEPs Ambassador, teaches youth about the poultry industry

If you missed out on this year's in-person event but are interested in learning more about raising broilers or turkeys for market poultry shows, visit AgriLife Learn for more information about the Virtual Market Poultry Workshop - tx.ag/VirtualMPW

Event Sponsors

Gold
• Ful-O-Pep
• Oxygen Livestock
• Producers Cooperative Association

Bronze
• A&B Livestock Supply