2020 Annual Report

Brett Bobo was a senior at Plainview High School in Rainsville when he was contemplating his future with his father, William. 

“We were talking about what type of career I wanted to pursue when I saw an advertisement for a program at Gadsden State,” he said. “It was the clarity I needed.” 

The advertisement was for the 2+2 Poultry Science Program located at Gadsden State Cherokee. The program gives students the opportunity to complete their freshman and sophomore years at Gadsden State Cherokee and their junior and senior years at Auburn University. In the end, students earn a bachelor’s degree in Poultry Science. 

“The 2+2 Poultry Science Program was a perfect fit for me because poultry is about all I know,” he said. 

Since 2006, Bobo’s family has raised chickens in four boiler houses located at the family’s Rainsville farm. 

“I was 11 years old when we started in the poultry business,” he said. “It’s an industry we know; an industry we enjoy.” 

Poultry is Alabama’s most profitable agricultural industry generating more than $3.1 billion each year and accounting for more than 65 percent of the state’s annual farming revenues. It’s also an industry that has a wide variety of job opportunities. 

“My background is raising poultry but there are so many other options,” he said. “I like the many options available to those of us who graduate with poultry science degrees. I have friends all over the country doing a variety of jobs, from feed and meat sales to vaccination development to production.” 

Job opportunities are available in genetics, pharmaceuticals, nutrition, production, processing, engineering, biochemistry and agribusiness. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the poultry science industry are projected to grow by 6 percent before 2029. 

“Jobs are always available,” Bobo said. “If you work hard, you’ll always have a job.” 

Bobo enrolled in Gadsden State Cherokee’s 2+2 Poultry Science Program in 2015. He flourished as a Gadsden State student having served as a Gadsden State Ambassador, was named to the President’s List and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society. In 2017, he was the recipient of the coveted President’s Cup for the Academic Division, a designated award for the student demonstrating exceptional success in all phases of college life. 

“I was fortunate to have gotten my foundation at Gadsden State,” he said. “I value my experiences and opportunities at Gadsden State. The poultry science course gave me good insight into what to expect when I transferred to Auburn and prepared me with the information I needed to understand how the industry works.” 

After graduating with an associate degree, Bobo received multiple scholarships from the AU Poultry Science Department and the Alabama Egg and Poultry Association as well as the transfer scholarship awarded to community college transfer students. 

“I had scholarships for every semester I was at Auburn,” he said. “The scholarships were so instrumental in my success in the program.” 

During the second half of his 2+2 program experience, Bobo worked on the Auburn University Poultry Research Farm Unit. He also completed two paid summer internships with Wayne Farms – at the hatchery in 2018 and the processing plan in 2019, both located in Albertville. The experiences solidified his career direction. 

“I enjoyed my internships,” he said. “After I completed my second internship, I was guaranteed a job after graduation.” 

Bobo was accepted in the supervisor trainee program at Wayne Farms, the seventh-largest vertically integrated poultry producer in the U.S. He started his job after his December 2019 graduation from Auburn. 

Through the program, he is learning every aspect of the company, from human resources to quality assurance to processing. 

“The program is giving me vast knowledge in everything it takes to raise a chicken,” he said. 

After the year-long program, Bobo will be assigned a permanent position for Wayne Farms, the same company his father produces chickens for. 

“I’ve been given this opportunity to learn so much,” he said. “Once I complete the program, I will have a full overview of the company. I will know most everything there is to know about working at Wayne Farms.” 

Looking back, Bobo is proud that he chose poultry science and that he started on his career path at Gadsden State. 

“The 2+2 program is the way to go if you have an interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural industry,” he said. “Gadsden State and Auburn will prepare you to be successful in the end. They give you the tools and knowledge you need to be a good, valued employee in the poultry industry. Just stay on top of your work. It isn’t easy. And, be open-minded about learning more. Don’t focus on one area. Keep learning.”

The 2+2 Poultry Science Program is a partnership between Gadsden State Cherokee and Auburn University. Students enrolled in the program will complete their core curriculum at Gadsden State Cherokee as well as an introductory agriculture class taught by Auburn University faculty. Scholarship awards in the amount of 13 credit hours are available. Scholarship evaluation criteria include: 

• Admission to Gadsden State 
• Intention to transfer to Auburn University and major in Poultry Science 
• Completion of the Gadsden State General Scholarship Application 
• Completion of the Poultry Science Scholarship Application 
• Description of educational and career goals (no more than 250 words) 
• GPA of 2.5 or greater 

For more information, go to www.gadsdenstate.edu/poultryscience or contact Luanne Hayes at lhayes@gadsdenstate.edu.