Growchella is the North Carolina Center for Poultry Education’s signature agricultural education, workforce-development, and industry-networking event—bringing students, educators, farmers, university representatives, agricultural businesses, families, and the public together on a working commercial poultry farm.
Now in its second year, Growchella gives attendees an opportunity to experience modern agriculture firsthand. Guests can meet the people behind food production, explore agricultural equipment and emerging technologies, connect with universities and industry professionals, and discover career pathways across poultry production, animal science, veterinary medicine, engineering, automation, precision agriculture, food safety, skilled trades, and agribusiness.
This family-friendly celebration will feature educational exhibits and demonstrations from agricultural companies and university partners, opportunities for students to engage directly with potential employers, and live entertainment from the Band of Oz—one of the Southeast’s most recognized beach-music bands.
Growchella 2026 will also feature nationally recognized agricultural communicator Michelle Miller, known as “The Farm Babe.” Michelle will share her passion for agriculture, connect with attendees, and help highlight the farmers, educators, businesses, technologies, and sponsors working to strengthen the future of agriculture.
The music and entertainment are an important part of Growchella’s educational mission. They bring people together, encourage attendees to remain at the event longer, and create more opportunities to explore exhibits, build professional relationships, learn where food comes from, and discover the many people and careers that make modern agriculture possible.
Whether you are a student considering your future, an educator seeking new resources, an agricultural professional looking to build connections, or a family interested in learning more about food and farming, Growchella offers something meaningful for you.
Businesses and organizations centered on agriculture, education, technology, workforce development, or rural communities are invited to participate. Display tables are available at no cost, and sponsorship opportunities are available for organizations that want to help NCCPE provide this important educational experience.
Come experience agriculture, technology, education, music, and community—all in one unforgettable evening at the North Carolina Center for Poultry Education.
A Few Pics From GROWCHELLA 2025
Agriculture Education. Everyone Is Welcome. Our Mission Comes First.
As Growchella continues to grow, the North Carolina Center for Poultry Education has invited leaders from across agriculture, education, government, industry, and our communities to attend and participate.
That includes government agencies and elected officials whose work directly impacts North Carolina agriculture.
Because of that, we believe it is important to be clear about something fundamental to NCCPE:
We are an agricultural education organization, and we are nonpartisan.
We believe students and the agricultural community benefit from meeting and learning from the people who help shape agricultural policy, programs, research, education, and industry. We also believe those opportunities can be provided without endorsing a political party or candidate.
NCCPE's relationships with government agencies, universities, Extension, commodity organizations, agricultural businesses, elected officials, producers, and other partners are built around education, agriculture, and service.
Elected officials, candidates for public office, and community leaders are welcome to attend Growchella as guests. Their attendance or participation should never be interpreted as an endorsement by NCCPE.
To protect that neutrality, campaign activities, campaign signage, political fundraising, campaign literature, and candidate-specific political exhibits are not part of Growchella's educational program.
When a government agency participates, our focus is on the work of that agency—its programs, educational resources, career opportunities, research, and service to agriculture.
Our goal is simple: Growchella should be a place where agriculture brings people together.
Farmers. Students. Educators. Researchers. Government agencies. Businesses. Families. Elected leaders. And the next generation of agricultural professionals.
We may not all share the same political views, and we don't have to. Agriculture gives us common ground.
Growchella is about agriculture, education, opportunity, and bringing people together.
That is our mission. That is where our focus will remain.
North Carolina Center for Poultry Education