Local FFA Member Receives Grant from Farm Credit

Shane's Chicken (photo submitted)

Shane’s Chicken (photo submitted)

NEW SHARON – North Mahaska student Shane Haage hopes he can make a difference in breeding chickens. However, not just any chickens, he wishes to help a rare breed become recognized by the American Poultry Association.

Haage received a $1,000 FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) grant by Farm Credit.

Haage is a member of the North Mahaska FFA Chapter. His application was selected from among 1,086 applications nationwide and just one of 14 from the state of Iowa. This year 32 different sponsors made 39 different types of SAE Grants available.
Haage is using this grant to start a breeding program for Ayam Cemani chickens. They are very rare and from Indonesia. There are only 19 recognized breeders in the United States who have been able to breed the standard of perfection for the breed.
SAE grants are designed to help FFA members create or expand Supervised Agricultural Experience projects, a requirement that all FFA members must complete. An SAE requires FFA members to create and operate an agriculture related business, work at an agriculture-related business or conduct an agricultural research experience. Upon completion, FFA members must submit a comprehensive report regarding their career development experience.

Breeders are working toward having Ayam Cemani chickens be recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) which is a five year or more process. Haage is working with them to help that happen by creating a breeding program. Part of this process includes showing birds in APA poultry shows and getting the genes perfected in his flock.

Haage has been working with his fellow FFA chapter members and his advisor Miranda Johnson to put the project into action. The funds will assist Haage in obtaining the birds and necessary equipment for a breeding program.

Posted by on Dec 26 2021. Filed under News, School Activities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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