Who We Are

The NC Center for Poultry Education, a nonprofit educational 501c3, originated as the Poultry Education Center and is situated on an operational contract poultry farm affiliated with Perdue Farms. The poultry production is under the ownership of S & N Enterprises LLC and in collaboration with Perdue Farms, Hog Slat, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the University of Mount Olive (UMO), the NC Center for Poultry Education has expanded to offer educational opportunities to educators and students. The focus is on programs like FFA, University agriculture programs including University of Mount Olive Agriculture and North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, NCSU Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, international agriculture professionals, government officials, and various other agriculture educational programs. Additionally, efforts are being made to enhance agriculture advocacy and education through social media platforms.

The NC Center for Poultry Education features a fully integrated classroom for lectures and teacher-led activities, seamlessly transitioning to a lab setting to facilitate a dynamic learning environment that combines theoretical learning with practical application. Students are guided to an educational room (lab setting) for hands-on learning, providing them with an opportunity to interact with chickens indoors, demonstrating how STEM studies in the classroom translate into real-world applications on a farm. Students also get to witness and participate in the nutrient management aspect of the farm, and restroom/shower facilities are available for their convenience during visits and tours.

Covering a wide range of agriculture-related topics, the center utilizes the poultry farm as a practical example to illustrate how agriculture is fundamental to our daily lives. Each visit is tailored to suit the student's experience level, from introducing basic concepts to Animal Science 1 high school classes to providing advanced experiences for NCSU Veterinary students, and hosting international agriculture professionals.

The NC Center for Poultry Education is proudly hosted by S & N Enterprises LLC, a commercial contract poultry farm that has been operating since 1996. It is a family-owned business dedicated to producing high-quality poultry through ethical animal welfare practices. The farm prioritizes creating a healthy and positive environment for both its animals and employees. S & N Enterprises LLC upholds environmental standards and complies with all NRCS guidelines for nutrient management. The farm also follows the 5 freedoms of animal welfare:

  • Freedom from Hunger and Thirst

  • Freedom from Discomfort

  • Freedom from Pain, Injury, and Disease

  • Freedom to Express Natural Behaviors

  • Freedom from Fear and Distress

Moreover, S & N Enterprises LLC partners with Perdue Farms to raise tray pack products under the Harvest Land premium poultry protein label, which guarantees "No Antibiotics Ever," "Free Range," "Cage Free," and "All Natural" products.