Lubbock Students to Present Chick Probiotic Study at Expo

The siblings will share their research on poultry health at the 99th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Organic Food

Bold vector editorial illustration of a young chicken in a brooder box, representing student-led poultry health research. — Lubbock High School students Kaylyn and Carter Baker will showcase their research on probiotic supplements in poultry at the National FFA Convention. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Lubbock High School students Kaylyn and Carter Baker will travel to the 99th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, beginning October 21, 2026. The siblings earned their spot by winning the state competition with a science project examining the impact of probiotics on poultry growth.

Why it matters

This project offers a practical look at how dietary supplements like probiotics might influence the development of chicks in a controlled environment. The siblings' findings provide a localized example of student-led agricultural research that investigates efficiency in poultry care.

The students conducted a preliminary science project using 21 Barred Rock chicks divided into three treatment groups, including powdered and liquid probiotic supplements. While the study identified Hydro-Hen as the most effective option, the long-term impact on the birds remains under investigation.

The players

Kaylyn and Carter Baker

Lubbock High School students who won the state FFA convention for their research on poultry probiotics.

AgTexas

A financial services organization that funded travel costs for the students to attend the national convention.

The details

The study assigned the 21 chicks to three distinct groups to test the performance of different probiotic delivery methods. By comparing powdered and liquid probiotic supplements against a control, the project measured how these additives affected the development of the Barred Rock chicks. The research aimed to determine if specific supplement forms produced better results in the birds' physical performance.

October 21, 2026: The 99th National FFA Convention and Expo begins.

Health Landscape

The National FFA Convention and Expo serves as a primary venue for students to present agricultural findings that address food production and livestock health. This project contributes to the ongoing exploration of probiotic use in poultry as a method to support growth and development.

This study highlights how probiotic supplements are being investigated for use in animal agriculture. Consumers interested in these trends should discuss the role of probiotics in the food chain with agricultural experts or their physician regarding dietary choices.

The takeaway

The study suggests that probiotics may play a role in optimizing growth for poultry, highlighting the value of continued scientific exploration in farm management. Readers interested in agricultural science can follow future reports from national conventions to see how these student-led findings are applied.