Students in the program will complete their freshman and sophomore years at Wallace State and their junior and senior years at Auburn University, completing a bachelor’s degree in poultry science. 

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According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment for farmworkers and laborers in crop, nursery, and greenhouse operations remains steady. The median annual income in 2024 was $38,470 for grounds maintenance workers and $34,470 for farmworkers and laborers in crop, nursery, and greenhouse settings. An average of about 171,600 job openings for grounds maintenance workers is projected each year over the decade. Many of these openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force, including those who retire. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics)

According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, agriculture, forestry, and related food and fiber industries support roughly 273,000 total jobs statewide, including approximately 166,000 direct jobs.

In Cullman County, where Wallace State is located, the county continues to rank first in Alabama for poultry and egg production and second in vegetable and melon farming, underscoring the region’s strong agricultural base. Overall, agriculture and forestry account for about one out of every ten jobs in Alabama, highlighting the industry’s critical role in the state’s economy.