Darrin Karcher works with anyone and everyone that has a question regarding poultry.
Karcher is the poultry Extension specialist for the Department of Animal Science. He does outreach with Michigan's commercial industry and those who raise poultry in their backyards, known as backyard people. Karcher acts as a resource for them to answer any questions they might have about their flocks.
Karcher will showcase his poultry expertise at the 97th annual Agriculture and Natural Resources Week, held March 3-10 at Michigan State University.
"ANR Week is where extensions within the College of Agriculture put together programming for the general public," Karcher said. "Anyone can come in and take classes specific to their interests."
During ANR Week, Karcher will be involved in two poultry classes. The first is a pullorum certification class in which participants will learn how to test the blood of poultry to screen for pullorum typhoid. At the end of the class, participants will have an opportunity to get certified to do that testing in the state. Karcher also teaches a small flock backyard class.
Besides ANR week, Karcher also puts on occasional workshops in counties around Michigan on various poultry related topics.
Karcher said that being a full-time outreach extension specialist means that there is no set schedule.
"Every day is a new day," Karcher said. "I can come into the office with the intention of doing office work that day, and get a call and be headed out into the state to help with a poultry issue."
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