News | January 9, 2025

Perdue Farms Continues Support For North Carolina Center For Poultry Education Mission To Cultivate Ag Education And Advocacy

Second-generation Perdue Farms poultry farmer Steven Brake is passionate about educating the next generation on where their food comes from and agriculture’s role in feeding the world. So much, that he created the North Carolina Center for Poultry Education (NCCPE) on his farm in 2019 in Pinetops, North Carolina.

To help Brake continue his mission to educate thousands of students and anyone else interested in understanding the processes involved in food production, Perdue Farms has invested $15,000 in the nonprofit Center for Poultry Education. Brake is an independent contract poultry farmer raising chickens for Perdue Farms, which helped support the Center’s creation.

“I realize the importance of transparency and sharing who we are as farmers and how we care for our animals, because there is a lot of misinformation out there,” said Brake. “We appreciate the partnership with Perdue and commitment to openly demonstrate transparency and foster discussion.”

The investment is funded through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the company’s charitable giving partner and aligns with its Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors outreach focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities.

The Center for Poultry Education is a collaboration with Perdue Farms, the North Carolina Agriculture Department and three North Carolina universities, focusing on cultivating agricultural education and advocacy. The facility has hosted international trade delegations, teaching about the U.S. poultry industry and answering questions about U.S. poultry management, Brake noted. The Center has hosted more than 2,500 individuals since opening.

NCCPE wants to develop scholarships for agriculture students, conduct STEM tours for FFA students, 4-H and community outreach programs, Brake said.

NCCPE will use the Perdue grant to provide housing for college interns studying at the center, he said, explaining that the universities where the center usually recruits are 90 minutes from NCCPE, making commuting impractical. Brake said the Perdue grant will also be used for a main entrance sign to create a positive first impression.

Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation, said NCCPE is a prime resource for the agricultural industry.

“The center teaches the importance of agriculture and fosters agricultural education and aligns with the company’s priority of transparency with all our stakeholders,” said Nechay. “The Perdue Foundation is proud to support the vital service the center provides.”

Source: Perdue Farms