OCALA, Fla. (WCJB) – A student from Marion County has received an award from the Livestock Conservancy to support her work with an endangered poultry breed.

Calista Sappenfield from Citra has received a microgrant from the Livestock Conservancy to support her work with White-Faced Black Spanish chickens.

These chickens are classified as “critical” on The Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.

Originally from Holland, White-Faced Black Spanish chickens were among the most popular poultry breeds in America during the 1800s.

Despite being excellent egg layers, their popularity declined around the turn of the 20th century. Experts said this breed is critically endangered, with fewer than 500 birds remaining in the U.S. and an estimated global population of under 5,000.

Sappenfield said she plans to use the grant funding to expand her flock of White-Faced Black Spanish chickens to increase egg production on her family’s farm.

She will also construct a chicken tractor—safe, mobile housing that takes advantage of pasture resources.

As a member of 4-H, she aims to introduce the breed to other growers, particularly young people, by participating in various poultry events and shows.

“Showing chickens is a great avenue to promote the White-Faced Black Spanish variety, as anyone encountering their distinctive plumage is amazed,” Sappenfield said. “It raises both awareness of the breed and the breed itself,”

Sappenfield is one of 15 recipients of the Livestock Conservancy microgrant awards nationwide.

Among the winners, three awards help heritage breed associations, and four microgrants have been awarded to youth under the age of 18, like Sappenfield.

“Farmers, ranchers, and shepherds are aging out of livestock and poultry production across America,” Livestock Conservancy Executive director Allison Kincaid said. “Since 2018, more than 25 percent of our microgrants have invested in youth who are discovering the opportunity to make an impact in conservation. We need these heritage breeders of tomorrow as partners in the fight to save heritage breeds from extinction.”

Since launching the microgrant program in 2018, officials with the Conservancy said nearly $135,000 has been awarded to support each of the 11 species served by the organization, which includes cattle, chickens, donkeys, ducks, geese, goats, horses, pigs, rabbits, sheep, and turkeys. Microgrants are entirely funded by donors and sponsors.

The microgrant program is one of several initiatives by The Livestock Conservancy aimed at promoting and protecting heritage breeds. Other programs include “Shave ‘Em to Save ‘Em,” which encourages knitters, weavers, and fiber artists to use wool from 23 endangered sheep breeds, such as the Leicester Longwool, in their projects.

Applications for the next round of microgrants will open in May 2025.

Officials with the Livestock Conservancy said it is a membership-based organization committed to promoting, protecting, and preserving rare breeds of livestock and poultry across America.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Copyright 2025 WCJB. All rights reserved.