american poultry association

What american poultry association does

The American Poultry Association (APA) is a private, independent nonprofit membership organization founded in 1873. It maintains the American Standard of Perfection, the official North American reference defining the ideal appearance, coloring, and temperament of recognized poultry breeds, and serves breeders, exhibitors, youth participants, affiliated clubs, and commercial flock owners through standards, sanctioned shows, judges, certification, and recognition programs. It also supports showmanship, judging, essay, quiz-bowl, and workshop activities and awards two Richard Stevens Scholarships of $1,500 each annually.\n\nAPA's paid portfolio includes recurring annual membership dues, yearbook advertising, event entry fees, flock certification, and one-time sales of the 45th Edition Standard of Perfection, books, posters, manuals, apparel, and other merchandise. The Standard hardback is priced at $65, flock certification starts at $300 for flocks of 100 birds or less, and yearbook advertisements range from $27 for one-eighth-page black-and-white to $225 for a full-page color placement. No app, public API, SDK, named artificial-intelligence capability, or proprietary software platform is disclosed.\n\nDistribution is community-led and event-driven. APA reaches members through its website, newsletter, annual yearbook, affiliated-club network, online store, and sanctioned annual, semi-annual, district, and state events in the United States and Canada. The organization reports thousands of members and more than 70 affiliated clubs and organizations, but it does not disclose revenue, headcount, membership growth, or funding, limiting assessment of financial scale and growth direction.

Name

american poultry association

Legal name

American Poultry Association

Website

https://amerpoultryassn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The American Poultry Association is a nonprofit membership organization that sets poultry breed standards, licenses judges, certifies flocks, and supports breeders, exhibitors, youth, and affiliated clubs through shows, education, publications, and recognition programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to member benefits including the quarterly newsletter, annual yearbook, exhibitor recognition with points towards master exhibitor status, and access to judges and educational materials.
2. Store Sales (Merchandise & Publications): Sale of APA merchandise including apparel, accessories, books, and publications such as the Standard of Perfection, breeding guides, and educational materials.
3. Yearbook Advertising: Advertising space sales in the annual APA Yearbook delivered to full membership each October, available in print and digital formats. Ad space ranges from 1/8 page to full page, B&W and color options.
4. Event Entry Fees: Fees collected from sanctioned poultry shows and exhibitions. Entry fees vary by event, with some events charging per bird entry.
5. Flock Certification: Certification fees for commercial marketing of Standard-Bred Poultry. Basic fee of $300 for flocks of 100 birds or less, with additional $1/bird for birds over 100.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The American Poultry Association (APA) is a nonprofit membership organization that maintains the Standard of Perfection — the official breed standard for Standard-Bred Poultry in North America — and supports breeders and exhibitors through membership services, sanctioned poultry shows, judge licensing, flock certification, educational publications, and merchandise sales. Revenue is generated from annual membership dues, publication and merchandise sales, yearbook advertising, event entry fees, and flock certification fees.

Product overview

The American Poultry Association offers a unified portfolio centered on the APA Standard of Perfection—the official breed standard defining ideal poultry characteristics. Core offerings include the 45th Edition Standard of Perfection hardcover publication and the annual APA Yearbook. The organization provides educational resources including breed-specific guides, the APA Poultry Breeds Poster, Showmanship Manual, Coloring Book, and a Video Lesson Library. Merchandise includes apparel, patches, pins, and accessories. Membership provides access to exhibitor recognition programs through the APA Points System, youth programs, quarterly newsletters, and flock certification services. The organization also awards the Richard Stevens Scholarship to qualified members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard of Perfection (45th Edition Hardback) The official breed standard of the poultry fancy in North America, defining and classifying the ideal physical appearance, coloring, and temperament of all recognized breeds of poultry including chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese. First published in 1874.
• APA Yearbook Annual publication delivered to full APA membership each October, featuring articles, membership listings, advertisements, APA licensed judges information, and Master Exhibitor information. Available in print and digital formats.
• APA Poultry Breeds Poster Full-color poster featuring illustrations or photos of recognized chicken, duck, goose, and turkey breeds. Educational and decorative item for classrooms, barns, show booths, or home display.
• APA Showmanship Manual Booklet providing clear guidelines for starting and developing youth showmanship activities, including guidance for participants on judging expectations, proper appearance, and effective bird handling and presentation.
• APA Poultry Coloring Book Coloring book featuring illustrated heritage breeds recognized by the APA. Educational and creative resource for poultry lovers of all ages.
• Bantam Culture Practical guide by Bruce Catlin for beginners entering the world of breeding and exhibiting bantam chickens, covering hatching, fertility, incubation, feeding, and culling.
• Bantams: A Decade of Winners Reference book by Jeff Duguay, Ph.D. highlighting a decade of winning bantam breeds and varieties across all seven exhibition classes with high-quality photos of champion birds.
• Breeding and Showing Belgian d'Uccles: Making it to Champion Row Comprehensive guide by Jeff Duguay, Ph.D. and Aaron Hamilton covering Belgian d'Uccle traits, breed standards, color patterns, and breeding strategies.
• Breeding and Showing Cochins: Making it to Champion Row Comprehensive guide covering both bantam and large fowl Cochins, detailing traits judges look for in exhibition birds with picture examples.
• Black and White Standard Illustrations Collection of classic black-and-white illustrations by Schilling, Burgess, Graham & Sewell featuring breeds and varieties of chickens, ducks, and geese from the pre-color era of the Standard of Perfection.
• APA Merchandise Official APA-branded merchandise including patches, pins, tumblers, keychains, apparel (caps, hoodies, polo shirts, t-shirts, aprons), and collectibles.
• APA Membership Annual membership program offering exhibitor recognition (APA Points System), youth programs, quarterly newsletter, annual yearbook, and access to licensed judges and educational materials.
• APA Youth Programs Youth engagement program including showmanship contests, essay contests, judging contests, quiz bowls, photo contests, educational displays, and workshops, delivered in partnership with the Youth Exhibition Poultry Association (Y.E.P.A.).
• APA Video Lesson Library Collection of video lessons covering poultry health, breed standards, and show preparation topics presented by Jeff Duguay, Ph.D.
• APA Flock Certification Certification program for commercial marketing of Standard-Bred Poultry. Certified flocks may use the APA Certified label, confirming birds meet APA Standard of Perfection guidelines and are capable of natural reproduction.
• APA Sanctioned Poultry Shows and Exhibitions Sanctioned poultry exhibitions held across the US and Canada, including the Annual Meet, Canadian National Meet, Semi-Annual meets, and numerous district and state meets. Entries are judged by APA licensed judges and earn points toward Master Exhibitor, Grand Master Exhibitor, and Hall of Fame status.
• APA Judge Licensing Program Program for licensing poultry judges, including Apprentice Judge and Licensed Judge pathways, enabling qualified individuals to officiate at APA sanctioned shows.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Youth Exhibition Poultry Association (Y.E.P.A.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe APA partners with Y.E.P.A. to support youth education and involvement in Standard-Bred Poultry. Y.E.P.A. helps young poultry enthusiasts learn, grow, and participate through education, showmanship, leadership, and hands-on experience in breed selection, poultry care, exhibition, sportsmanship, and responsible stewardship.
• Pen Pals FeedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPen Pals Feed sponsors the Poultry Showmanship Essay Contest and various youth contests and workshops at the APA Annual Meet, providing awards including memberships, merchandise, and gift certificates.
• Good Shepherd ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGood Shepherd Conservancy was featured in APA Yearbook advertising materials, indicating a partnership for promoting heritage poultry breeds and conservation efforts.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Bantam Association: The ABA is the closest direct peer — a parallel North American poultry breed registry and exhibition organization focused specifically on bantam (small) chickens. It runs its own sanctioned shows, points system, and breed standards, dividing APA's addressable member base along bantam vs. large-fowl lines.
• Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities: SPPA is a heritage poultry breed conservation organization that competes for the same heritage-breed breeder community and overlaps with APA's flock certification and breed preservation mission. It serves as a niche alternative for conservation-focused breeders.
• The Livestock Conservancy: The Livestock Conservancy maintains a Conservation Priority List for heritage breeds including poultry, certifies breeders, and runs educational programs. It overlaps directly with APA's heritage breed certification mission and serves a similar conservation-oriented customer base.
• Good Shepherd Conservancy: Named as an APA partner in heritage breed promotion, Good Shepherd Conservancy certifies heritage-breed producers and serves as a parallel certification body. Its presence signals competition in the heritage-poultry certification niche.
• Youth Exhibition Poultry Association (Y.E.P.A.): Y.E.P.A. is named as an APA strategic partner and operates in the same youth poultry exhibition and education space. As an independent youth-focused org, it competes and collaborates with APA's youth programs for junior member attention and sponsorship.

Broad incumbents

• Poultry Science Association: PSA is the professional scientific association for poultry researchers and industry, covering the broader poultry value chain from a scientific/commercial perspective. It overlaps with APA in the poultry domain but targets academic and commercial poultry science rather than hobby breeders.
• 4-H (National 4-H Council): 4-H is the dominant US youth agricultural education organization with poultry projects and judging competitions. It competes with APA for youth member engagement and reach, while also serving as a potential channel partner for poultry education.

Emerging players

• American Rabbit Breeders Association: ARBA runs an analogous breed registry, sanctioned show circuit, judge licensing, and youth programs for rabbits — the same membership-driven hobby breed association model applied to a different animal category. Comparable structurally though not in poultry.
• National Pigeon Association: The NPA is a hobbyist breed association for pigeons, structured similarly to APA with breed standards, sanctioned shows, and membership. Comparable as a peer in the hobbyist poultry/bird association space, though smaller and narrower in species scope.

Regional players

• Rare Breeds Survival Trust: RBST is the UK's heritage breed conservation body, maintaining watch lists and certification programs for rare livestock including poultry. Comparable to APA's heritage breed and certification mission but serving a UK rather than North American constituency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/americanpoultryassociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-poultry-association-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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