Poultry World at the Georgia National Fair

Article for Georgia AgNews - September 2011

Fall in Georgia means its time to go to the Fair, and the biggest of the bunch is the Georgia National Fair in Perry, from October 6 – 16.
I’ve been going to the Georgia National Fair every year since 1998 for a very good reason — Poultry World, the poultry industry’s educational exhibit.

Poultry World was established in 1995 by the Georgia Poultry Federation, along with industry and academic partners, to share information with the public about all aspects of the poultry industry – Georgia’s #1 agricultural and agribusiness sector. The mission of Poultry World is to increase public awareness and understanding of the industry and how it produces safe and wholesome products while creating jobs and other positive economic benefits.

2011 will mark Poultry World’s 17th year as part of the Georgia National Fair. Staffed by over 150 knowledgeable volunteers from poultry companies, allied industry companies, universities, the poultry laboratory network and the federation office, Poultry World continues to be one of the most popular exhibits at the fair, drawing more than 50,000 visitors during the 10 days of the fair, over half of which are school children, touring the exhibit as part of the Georgia National School House program.

Poultry World is housed in a 40-foot-by-55-foot building resembling a poultry growout house. The building includes video and educational displays that provide an overview of the industry from the farm to the grocery store.

A favorite of the children is the incubator where they can view chicks hatching and a 12-foot-by-20-foot growout area for the growing chicks to drink and feed, complete with equipment as it appears in an actual chicken house. The children are allowed to hold and pet the chicks, with the assistance of volunteers who are also available throughout the exhibit to answer questions about any segment of the poultry industry.

Educational displays include every facet of the industry: Feed and Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine, Breeders, Hatcheries, Farm Operations–Growout and Fresh Table Eggs. There are also exhibits on Environmental Stewardship, Industry Economic Statistics.
Educational Opportunities displays feature information on the universities and colleges in Georgia that have poultry-related programs, including the University of Georgia’s Departments of Poultry Science, Food Science, Veterinary Medicine and the Poultry Diagnostic Research Center, and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, as well as Georgia Tech’s Agricultural Technology Research Program.

Poultry World opens its doors this year on Friday, October 7. Come on by while you’re at the Fair, just inside the North Gate.

Steven Thomas
Market Manager – Historic Downtown Gainesville Market On The Square
678-943-4442
steve@hallfarmers.org
www.hallfarmers.org