AGRI 130 students had the opportunity to learn about the benefits of networking and building a professional image online with Michele Walfred, a communications specialist for the University of Delaware. The lecture covered the topics of professional social media, networking, and the perceptions of agriculture. Currently, individuals are expected to be on social media for professional and networking purposes. This modern expectation causes an emphasis on personal branding and self representation. A great piece of advice from this portion of the lecture was to be professional at all times on social media affiliated with your name.It can be useful to have a separate account that is not under your name for personal subjects such as politics, sports, and family pictures. Mixing personal and professional posts on one account can cause you to lose job opportunities, connections, and followers. On the subject of networking, it is important to connect with people in person, give people your undivided attention, and be active in conversation. Networking in person is just as important as networking online. Agriculture is a science that the public has a lot of misconceptions about. It is important for agriculturalists to share accurate knowledge and educate the public. Some sources on the internet share incorrect information about agriculture. It is important to check the credibility of sources and articles on the internet. The spread of misinformation causes confusion on the credibility of farmers and the products they produce. Thank you to Michele Walfred for sharing knowledge of social media, and personal branding with AGRI 130.
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Evolution of the Poultry Industry with Georgie Cartanza
On September 10, 2018, the AGRI 130 students had the opportunity to learn about the American poultry industry with Georgie Cartanza, an organic chicken farmer based in Delaware. The lecture provided history of poultry farming in Delaware. The Delaware chicken farming industry started in 1923 when the Steele family ordered 50 chicks and they received 500. Today, DelMarVa (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) produces 605 billion chickens annually and this industry has grown to meet the demand for meat. Due to the large number of birds being produced in DelMarVa, the industry provides employment opportunities in the area. Additionally, every employment position within the poultry industry creates seven employment opportunities within the surrounding community. Agriculturalists involved in the poultry industry have grown with research of technology to produce the best quality meat, without sacrificing the welfare of the chickens. Poultry raising operations utilize modern technology for feeding, watering, and controlling the temperature of the environment in which the chickens live.My favorite fact from this lecture was that the increase in muscle mass of chickens now versus chickens of the past is due to selective breeding, not hormones and steroids. Selective breeding is when breeders decide which animals have the most desirable traits and breeds the two most desireable individuals in order to receive offspring that displays those traits. This lecture was very interesting and informational. Thanks to Georgie Cartanza for taking time out of her day to speak to the AGRI 130 students at UD.