Bill and Barbara Huffman have provided the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences with an endowment amounting to $850,000. This will assist the Department of Poultry Science to recruit a Department Head and an Instructional Assistant Professor. Funds will expand laboratory space and support staff. The Department has received financial commitments from Merck Animal Health, the Texas Poultry Federation, Aviagen and Calpis America.
The Texas A&M Poultry Science Department is noted for practical research that benefits producers and the allied industry. Over the past five years, the Department has increased external research funding two-fold to $3.8 million.
J.C. Essler, Executive Vice President of the Texas Poultry Federation and Affiliates noted, "Texas A&M has been an important partner both through science and education and the efforts of Vice Chancellor, Dr. Patrick Stover to improve an already stellar poultry program speaks volumes to the shared relationship". He added, "as a commodity group the Texas Poultry Federation is committed to Texas A&M Land-Grant mission and we look forward to supporting the University's efforts to enhance its poultry program".