NC State Student Brings Poultry Passion to Life at Farm Animal Days

Kendall Snyder eagerly anticipates the annual NC State University Farm Animal Days, an event where children marvel at adorable chicks and bombard her with inquiries. “How old are the baby chickens? Are they dinosaurs?” she chuckles.

“When the kids ask their names, I tell them that they can name the chicks. Each chick has 20 names by the end of the week!” Snyder, a senior double-major in Poultry Science and Wildlife Conservation Biology, cherishes these interactions.

This three-day event, held each April, draws numerous visitors, allowing Snyder to share her enthusiasm for poultry with many who have never encountered chickens or turkeys before.

A Journey Through Agriculture

Like these children, Snyder’s own childhood was devoid of farming experiences due to her military family’s frequent relocations. “I lived in South Korea, Italy, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Washington state, Virginia, and North Carolina,” she recounts, explaining how cultivating tomato plants was impractical.

By her teenage years, her father’s retirement settled their family in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Despite a lack of farming experience, she discovered her passion for agriculture through animal science classes at Pinecrest High School. “I knew I wanted to be in the agricultural field when I graduated high school,” Snyder reflects.

Forging a Path at NC State

Determined, she enrolled in NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. After obtaining an associate’s degree from Sandhills Community College, Snyder transferred to NC State, where she found the Prestage Department of Poultry Science to be a supportive community.

“Since transferring in the fall of 2022, I have been an active member of the Poultry Science Club, which has helped me engage more as a transfer student,” she shares.

This year, NC State’s Poultry Science Club received the Club of the Year award at the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta. At the same event, Snyder was honored with the Frank Perdue Scholarship Student of the Year award, recognizing her academic excellence and potential contributions to the poultry industry.

Internships and Future Aspirations

Her summer internships at Cobb-Vantress and Aviagen Turkeys, both leaders in poultry genetics, provided Snyder with practical experiences that enhanced her academic learning. She focused on special projects related to chicken embryology and turkey physiology at these companies.

“You can raise a broiler and never need to know anything about it,” Snyder explains. “I want to understand everything happening behind the scenes and how the bird functions.”

Her internship at Aviagen has opened doors for her future, as she is set to join their management training program, which involves travel to various locations, including Goldsboro and Minnesota. Snyder plans to pursue graduate studies to delve deeper into her chosen area of interest in poultry science, ultimately aiming to contribute to the industry’s sustainability and its capacity to feed an ever-growing global population.

As she approaches graduation, Snyder reflects on how NC State has been instrumental in her journey into the poultry sector, from fostering professionalism to providing valuable networking opportunities.

“The department helps connect students with industry professionals, and many students have greatly benefited from internships,” she concludes.

Source: NC State CALS News