FRESNO, Calif. – Representatives from Foster Farms and Fresno State Univ. broke ground on the new Foster Farms Poultry Education and Research Facility at The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology at Fresno State.

The new 16,000 sq. ft. facility will include eco-friendly features and advanced climate-control and feed delivery systems that replicate professional poultry production. The center, which is expected to open in the spring semester of 2013, will give 500 students in the Animal Sciences and Agricultural Education Department hands-on agricultural training and education. The center will also support research initiatives in poultry nutrition, animal welfare and improved environmental practices.

“Foster Farms is committed to enriching poultry science education and furthering agriculture as a contributor to our state’s economy,” said Mike Pruitt, Foster Farms senior vice president. “As a Central Valley-based poultry company, we are pleased to be able to support advanced education in our own community.”

The new facility was made possible by a gift from Foster Farms, which also contributed to the engineering, design and construction of the building and will provide ongoing program support.