The Virginia Poultry Federation presented the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) with its prestigious Eddie Mason Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations for support of poultry youth educational programs. VPF established the award in 1997 to honor the late Eddie Mason, a former poultry industry executive, for his extraordinary dedication and service to poultry youth programs.
In presenting the award during VPF’s annual Poultry Youth Convention on the campus of Virginia Tech, VPF President Hobey Bauhan stated, “From the beginning, VDACS has been an integral part of our poultry industry youth activities. VDACS staff provide expertise and energy that have been invaluable to the success of our annual Poultry Youth Convention.”
VDACS’ Poultry and Egg Marketing program has assisted the VPF with the Poultry Youth Convention for more than 25 years, co-chairing the Youth Planning Committee, setting up and implementing the youth judging contest, and educating FFA and 4-H teams on the identification and grading of poultry and eggs.
During VPF’s Annual Youth Convention, about 150 FFA and 4-H youth, ranging in age from 10 to 18, participate in poultry judging contests and educational activities related to the poultry industry. The convention is collaboration among VPF, Virginia Tech’s Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, and VDACS Poultry and Egg Marketing Section. VPF’s Youth Committee also awarded industry scholarships totaling $9,990 to Virginia Tech poultry science students for the academic year 2016-2017.
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