PINETOPS, N.C. (Thursday, January 9, 2025) — Second-generation Perdue Farms poultry farmer Steven Brake is passionate about educating the next generation on where their food comes from and agriculture’s role in feeding the world. So much, that he created the North Carolina Center for Poultry Education (NCCPE) on his farm in 2019 in Pinetops, North Carolina.

To help Brake continue his mission to educate thousands of students and anyone else interested in understanding the processes involved in food production, Perdue Farms has invested $15,000 in the nonprofit Center for Poultry Education. Brake is an independent contract poultry farmer raising chickens for Perdue Farms, which helped support the Center’s creation.

“I realize the importance of transparency and sharing who we are as farmers and how we care for our animals, because there is a lot of misinformation out there,” said Brake. “We appreciate the partnership with Perdue and commitment to openly demonstrate transparency and foster discussion.”

The investment is funded through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the company’s charitable giving partner and aligns with its Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors® outreach focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities.

The Center for Poultry Education is a collaboration with Perdue Farms, the North Carolina Agriculture Department and three North Carolina universities, focusing on cultivating agricultural education and advocacy. The facility has hosted international trade delegations, teaching about the U.S. poultry industry and answering questions about U.S. poultry management, Brake noted. The Center has hosted more than 2,500 individuals since opening.

NCCPE wants to develop scholarships for agriculture students, conduct STEM tours for FFA students, 4-H and community outreach programs, Brake said.

NCCPE will use the Perdue grant to provide housing for college interns studying at the center, he said, explaining that the universities where the center usually recruits are 90 minutes from NCCPE, making commuting impractical. Brake said the Perdue grant will also be used for a main entrance sign to create a positive first impression.
Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation, said NCCPE is a prime resource for the agricultural industry.
“The center teaches the importance of agriculture and fosters agricultural education and aligns with the company’s priority of transparency with all our stakeholders,” said Nechay. “The Perdue Foundation is proud to support the vital service the center provides.”

You can learn more about Steven Brake and NCCPE in this video.

About the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation

The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture^®.

About Perdue Farms

We’re a fourth-generation, family-owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.

Perdue Foods consists of a premium protein portfolio, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch®, Coleman Natural®, and Yummy®, as well as our pet brands, Full Moon® and Spot Farms®, and is available through various channels including retail, foodservice, club stores and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com. Perdue AgriBusiness  is a leading merchandiser, processor, and exporter of agricultural products and the largest U.S. manufacturer of specialty, organic and non-GMO oils. It also ranks as one of the largest suppliers of organic feed ingredients in the world.

Now in our company’s second century, we never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever and in USDA-certified organic proteins. Learn more at Corporate.PerdueFarms.com.