TUCKER, Ga. – The USPOULTRY Foundation received a $1 million endowment to put toward providing young people with opportunities to get involved in the poultry industry.

Tommy and Chantal Bagwell established the Leland Bagwell Education and Innovation Fund in memory of Leland Bagwell, founder of American Proteins and past chairman of the Southeastern Poultry & Egg Association, now called USPOULTRY.

“We are honored and grateful to receive this $1 million gift. The endowment will help support the US Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation’s mission of continuing to attract young leaders to our industry, as well as fund research that will ensure the poultry and egg industry’s sustainability and prosperity in the future,” said Elton Maddox, president and CEO, Wayne Farms, and treasurer of the USPOULTRY Foundation.

Leland Bagwell was a vocational agriculture teacher who made many contributions to the poultry industry. The endowment in his name will focus on innovation, education and providing opportunities for lower income students.

“One of the keys to USPOULTRY’s success over the years has been tremendous industry leadership, such as Leland Bagwell provided,” said John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY. “In fact, it was during Leland’s tenure that Harold E. Ford was named executive director of Southeastern Poultry & Egg Association. Coming so close to the recent loss of Mr. Ford, this outstanding gift from Tommy and Chantal is especially meaningful.”