Delmarva chicken industry produces documentary

Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc. is part of a team that has embarked upon an exciting new project to capture the history of the local chicken industry. The 1,800-member nonprofit trade association is asking its members to get involved.

DPI is working with the nonprofit Berkana, Center for Media and Education Inc. and 302 Stories Inc., a Delaware-based documentary production company, to produce a 60-minute television documentary about the early years of Delmarva’s chicken industry. "Cluck, Pluck and Luck: The Early History of Delmarva's Poultry Industry" is building upon research these organizations have been conducting on the history of the chicken industry. Funded in part by the Delaware Humanities Forum, this material will be stored at the Delaware Public Archives and other sites. This documentary complements DPI’s 1998 history book.

As an expansion of the research work that has been underway for months, Berkana and 302 Stories Inc. are working to produce a full-length documentary for presentation at local theaters, on television both locally and nationally, and through libraries, schools, meetings, and individually distributed DVDs.

To make this happen by early 2015, DPI has pledged financial support to match money available through the Delaware Humanities Forum if DPI members and friends make tax-exempt contributions. DPI will match up to $7,500 of the total gifts received.

Berkana, Center for Media and Education Inc. and 302 Stories Inc. have made several highly professional documentaries that can be viewed at http://berkanacenter.com.

DPI asks for tax-deductible contributions by Nov. 15 so this project will be completed in spring 2015. Anyone wishing to learn more and to donate can do so through www.dpichicken.org.