Development Direction

Funding the Future

Southern AgCredit pledges to support the 4-H Poultry Chain Project

Story by Rhiannon Page • Photos by Kevin Hudson

The 4-H Poultry Chain Project regularly receives generous donations from organizations across the state, but the project has never received a donation quite like Southern AgCredit’s pledge of $25,000 over 5 years.

Southern AgCredit is part of the Farm Credit System, which Congress established in 1916 with the charge to support rural communities with reliable credit and financial services. For the lower 52 counties of Mississippi and multiple parishes in Louisiana, Southern AgCredit is the Farm Credit lender.

CEO Phillip Morgan explains the company’s interest in supporting agricultural education.

“Our passion is to finance agriculture and rural life,” says Morgan. “We need folks to be going into that area and to stay in that area. We have to be right there supporting young people as they determine what they are going to do in their life and if they’re going to stay in agriculture.”

The Mississippi 4-H Poultry Chain Project, delivered by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, is offered statewide to 4-H and FFA members who learn how to grow a bird.

After about 20 weeks, participants show their birds at the state fair and walk away with exponentially more knowledge about poultry, as well as new life skills.

“One of our largest commodities is poultry,” Morgan explains. “Southern AgCredit holds the largest financing of poultry in the state of Mississippi, so that’s our bread and butter. When you combine our passion for young, beginning, and small farmers with the largest commodity we support, it makes perfect sense for us to be right here with Extension providing training and education to students in poultry.”

Extension instructor Tannah Christensen, who oversees the 4-H Poultry Chain Project, emphasizes the importance of the project and significance of the Southern AgCredit donation.

“It’s no secret there is a lack of knowledge in agriculture across the world,” Christensen notes. “Poultry is the top commodity in the state of Mississippi. This program provides youth the opportunity to better understand poultry and further the industry and its impact on society. We are so thankful for generous donations like this; without them, this program would cease to exist.”

If you would like to help sponsor the 4-H Poultry Chain Project, click here to make a donation!