The ND FFA Foundation is dedicated to supporting agricultural literacy through leadership and real-world learning experiences. With support from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Ag in the Classroom grant program, students at Wing High School led a full-cycle broiler chicken project that combines animal science, recordkeeping, facility setup, and food processing into one comprehensive learning experience.
Program: Wing FFA
Teacher: Mike Axt
Impact: 24 students in grades 9-12
Purpose: To teach students about animal husbandry, meat science, and responsible food production through the care, processing, and packaging of broiler chickens.
Objectives:
- Learn proper care and nutrition for poultry from hatch to market.
- Record and calculate rate of gain, feed efficiency, and total weight.
- Build and maintain a safe and suitable living environment for livestock.
- Understand and carry out humane poultry processing and packaging.
- Develop confidence in food production and handling.
From the moment 36 baby chicks arrived at the school from Woodbury Hatchery in Wyndmere, ND, students took ownership of the entire process. Sophomores handled brooding and early-stage care, tracking weekly growth and feed conversion. As the birds grew, juniors and seniors constructed a coop using private donations, relocating the birds and preparing for processing.
The final stage of the project from slaughter, plucking, eviscerating, cutting, and packaging was carried out by students from all grade levels. The processed chickens were used in various ways: some were enjoyed by the students, some sold locally, and others donated to the school lunch program.
In total, 900 pounds of feed were used over 10 weeks, resulting in approximately 285 pounds of processed chicken. Student feedback reflected a sense of pride and discovery:
“They were super fun to take care of. I learned lots and it was a fun experience.”
“I liked how easy it was to butcher them, and they tasted good!”
This hands-on learning not only gave students a deeper appreciation for agriculture and food production, but also created memories and meals they won’t soon forget.
