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For the fifth year in a row, University of North Georgia (´óÏó´«Ã½) has received a $7,000 grant from the U.S. Poultry Foundation.

The money supports education and recruitment for students interested in poultry science and general agriculture programs, said Linda Purvis, lecturer of biology at ´óÏó´«Ã½.

"The funds can be for educational expenses," she said. "We use it for field trips, guest speakers and classroom materials."

Field trip destinations include a poultry processing plant in Gainesville, Georgia, the Georgia Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory and an international poultry expo in Atlanta, said Purvis, who has been at ´óÏó´«Ã½ since 2009. She said they help students meet poultry professionals face-to-face.

"So much of college is book knowledge," Purvis said. "Field trips help connect the classroom to the real world."

The grant also funds two outreach programs: Agriculture Career Day and Poultry 101.

Career day brings different poultry industry employers to campus for one-on-one time with students. The annual spring event is set for March 8 this year in the Student Center on ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Gainesville Campus.

Poultry 101 invites students from fifth grade through 12^th grade from all across Georgia to the Gainesville campus for a one-day workshop focusing on poultry and highlighting careers in that industry.