Taylor FFA poultry evaluation team attends conference in Atlanta

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 2/16/22

At first glance, many people think of chicken as something enjoyed at a restaurant. But there’s so much more to chickens and poultry science. Last month, four Taylor High School students attended the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta.

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Taylor FFA poultry evaluation team attends conference in Atlanta

Posted

At first glance, many people think of chicken as something enjoyed at a restaurant. But there’s so much more to chickens and poultry science. Last month, four Taylor High School students attended the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta.

There, Kathryn “Kacki” Kyisch, Kristen Justilian, Madailein Fitch, and Chloe LaBard, along with their FFA advisor David Laird, had a busy schedule. They met industry leaders, learned about poultry science careers and learned about university poultry programs.

They also received recognition for winning both state and national honors. Last April, they won the Texas FFA state poultry championship. Their honors earned them the invitation to attend the expo and do some networking.

“The kids all sat sit at different tables and met sponsors,” Laird said. He said Kyisch sat with the secretary of trade for Brazil.

As might be expected, chicken was the main dish at the awards banquet in Atlanta.

Getting practical experience with live chickens helped the Taylor students win their honors. But how does one raise chickens in a suburban environment as Katy? Kyisch said she raised 75 chickens in the family garage.

“We set up a pen, we put up a pen house, we put wood all around it, and we put up a tarp to keep the walls clean,” Kyisch said. “It was insane. It made me realize that raising chickens in your garage is not the best idea. It smelled so bad.”

Justilian said her experience was different. She did not raise chickens. She said she has a family where everyone has always lived in the city.

With many activities that turn into passions, both Kyisch and Justilian started early. Baird recruited them to join the team when they were freshmen, Kyisch said. They did, and realized by their sophomore that they had a passion for poultry.

It’s natural to have feelings towards the animals they raise, those animals are not pets. Kyisch said when she had raised those 75 chickens, she was ready to get rid of them.

“They’re kind of dumb,” Kyisch said. “It’s not like a dog, when you call its name and it comes to you. As far as intelligence goes, chickens are near the bottom. Chickens take a lot of work. You move them around, you feed them and you water them.”

Kyisch said she also raises goats. Justilian said she has raised rabbits for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

“It’s rewarding because you know you helped raise this animal,” Justilian said.

Yet, despite that rewarding feeling, it’s important to maintain a sense of detachment. The animals they raise will one day be on someone’s dinner plate.

“You only have a certain amount of time with them,” Kyisch said. “If you forget that, you get lost very quickly.”

Today, Kyisch is a senior and plans to attend either Texas A&M or Arkansas. Justilian is also a senior and plant to attend Texas A&M. Both will major in poultry science. Fitch is a junior. LaBard is a freshman at Texas A&M, majoring in poultry science.

“I think it was a really cool opportunity for us to see all the jobs you have in the poultry industry,” Kyisch said. “It’s so much more than just raising chickens.”

Laird expressed pride in his students.

“These girls are way smarter than I am,” Laird said.

According to its website, IPPE is the world's largest annual display of technology, equipment, supplies, and services used in the production and processing of eggs, meat, and poultry and those involved in feed manufacturing.

All segments of the industry are represented: feed milling, hatchery, live production, processing, further processing, marketing and all support activities.

Taylor FFA, Poultry, David Laird, Chloe LaBard, Madailein Fitch, Kristen Justilian, Kathryn Kyrisch, Kyrisch, Kacki Kyrisch