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GOLD KIST INC. MAKES FINAL INSTALLMENT FOR NEW AU POULTRY BUILDING
AUBURN, ALA.__Gerald Bailey, retired live production manager for Gold
Kist Inc. in Cullman, recently presented the last installment in a $600,000
pledge made by Gold Kist to Auburn University's new Poultry Science
Building fund.
Bailey presented the last $100,000 of the $600,000 pledge to AU College
of Agriculture Interim Dean John Jensen early in January. Those funds,
which represent contributions of $1 per 1,000 birds placed in Alabama
per week, will be used for construction of the building. Ground will
be broken soon for that new facility.
This donation represents the largest single donation made by Gold Kist
to any university in the nation. Bailey explained that Auburn was picked
because of its outstanding poultry science program.
"There is not enough funding in America to fund multiple stand-alone
poultry science departments," said Bailey. "I believe that
eventually we will end up with only six such departments in the United
States. Since the Southeast is a key poultry production area, it is
critical that Auburn have one of those departments."
Bailey praised Auburn's program saying that the knowledge provided through
Auburn's teaching, research and extension programs is vital to ensuring
the poultry industry's future growth. "Our industry depends on
Auburn for entry level personnel, for continuing education efforts through
extension programs and for the research that keeps our industry growing."
The AU Poultry Science Building Committee, of which Bailey is chairman,
continues to raise additional money and hope to establish a fund of
at least $1 million (after completion of original building and equipment)
for upkeep and future equipment needs of the department.
"We wouldn't be getting this new poultry building without Gerald
Bailey and the strong industry committee that has raised money and support
for the project," said Jensen. "The coalition of industry
and academia represented in this committee is part of the strength of
our program and we deeply appreciate their hard work and support. It
represents their long-term commitment to Auburn's poultry program and
our ongoing commitment to providing information and knowledge to the
industry."
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By: Katie Smith
2-4-02
CUTLINE:
GOLDKIST MAKES FINAL PAYMENT FOR NEW AU POULTRY BUILDING.
Gerald Bailey (center), retired live production manager for Gold Kist
Inc. in Cullman, recently presented a $100,000 check from his company
to Auburn University to be used in constructing a new AU College of
Agriculture's poultry science building. The check was a final payment
in a $600,000 pledge Gold Kist Inc. made toward the new building. Pictured
with Bailey are Chris Gary, development officer for the College, and
John Jensen, Interim dean of the College and director of the Alabama
Agricultural Experiment Station.
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