From left to right: Mark Wilton, development manager; Mitchell Pate, Poultry Research Unit director; Johnny Adams, CEO of the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association; Sarah Stephenson, senior in poultry science and former Tyson intern in Washington D.C.; Charles Penry, vice president Tyson Foods governmental affairs; and Wally Taylor, Tyson Foods complex manager.
AUBURN, Ala. – October 5, 2015 – A charitable corporate contribution of $250,000 from Tyson Foods — the largest contribution to date to benefit Auburn University’s Department of Poultry Science’s new research farm unit — will further the department’s academic and research initiatives.
With Tyson Foods’ support, the department will begin construction in 2016 of new instructional and research farm facilities. Dr. Donald Conner, professor and head of the Department of Poultry Science, noted that with support from the industry, Auburn poultry scientists are able to conduct solid research that addresses the needs of commercial growers.
“We are sincerely grateful to Tyson Foods for this generous gift,” said Conner. “We value our continued partnership with Tyson Foods and the entire poultry industry and are committed to training its future leaders and developing new knowledge that will help ensure that our poultry industry remains strong and competitive. This gift definitely will help us achieve our education and research missions.”
Tyson Foods’ philanthropic partnership will not only enhance the College of Agriculture’s research facilities and capacity, but will positively impact the quality of its instruction and extension abilities. These enhanced facilities will strengthen Auburn’s poultry programs by improving precision, biosecurity, and quality control within facilities. Its design will foster innovative ideas and empower faculty and students alike to answer the needs of consumers and commercial poultry growers, while providing students with hands-on experiences necessary for success in their post-graduate careers.
“Tyson Foods has been a vital partner in helping our department establish state-of-the-art facilities for our faculty, staff, and students,” Conner said. “More importantly, these facilities help us achieve our mission of serving the poultry industry in Alabama and beyond.”
“We’re very proud to support the innovative work being done by the Department of Poultry Science at Auburn University,” said Penry. “This donation will help ensure the important efforts at the poultry research farm thrive and help advance the future of poultry education for generations to come.”
Tyson Foods has been a long-time supporter of Auburn’s poultry science research. Previous corporate gifts in 2005 and 2012 supported the Poultry Science Building and the Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center, respectively. In addition, the company also provides Auburn students with internship experiences in both poultry science and food science. One of the department’s most recent interns, Sarah Stephenson, a senior in poultry science, interned with the company in the summer of 2014 as a congressional aide in its Washington D.C., offices.
Tyson Foods’ commitment also supports the College of Agriculture’s $51.4 million goal as part of Because This is Auburn — A Campaign for Auburn University. This historic $1 billion seeks to propel the university forward through a renewed commitment to its students, a continued promise to the state, and a shared responsibility to the world. Auburn’s goal through this comprehensive campaign is to create thousands of new scholarships for students, endow more than 100 new chairs and professorships for educators and researchers, develop programs allowing the Auburn Family to connect with people everywhere, and build new facilities and reimagine existing campus facilities. Learn more about the campaign and the College of Agriculture’s campaign priorities at because.auburn.edu/ag.
ABOUT TYSON FOODS
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world’s largest food companies with leading brands such as Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Sara Lee®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells® and State Fair®. It’s a recognized market leader in chicken, beef and pork as well as prepared foods, including bacon, breakfast sausage, turkey, lunchmeat, hot dogs, pizza crusts and toppings, tortillas and desserts. The company supplies retail and foodservice customers throughout the United States and approximately 130 countries. Tyson Foods was founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson, whose family has continued to lead the business with his son, Don Tyson, guiding the company for many years and grandson, John H. Tyson, serving as the current chairman of the board of directors. The company currently has approximately 113,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.
