WHITE LAKE — On April 26, the lakeside picnic shelter at the N.C. FFA Center at White Lake was converted to a show field for the evening — a show for chickens.
There were more than 50 youth ages 5 to 18 involved in 4-H and FFA from counties across the Southeast Region who came out to show their hens and broilers that they have been raising and caring for over the last few months.
In order to participate, the youth had to register through their school FFA advisor or their 4-H or Livestock Agent through NC Cooperative Extension. Registration for laying hens took place in December; while youth that raised and showed broilers had until early February to commit to the project. At least two required trainings were provided in each county to teach the youth about proper care, biosecurity, showmanship techniques, record keeping, and more.
Three areas of competition were judged including showmanship which is the handling of the bird and being able to verbally share their knowledge about the anatomy and breed to a judge; breed which the judge compares the overall look of the bird including fullness, color, health, etc. in comparison with the other birds of its same breed; and project record books which is a written record of knowledge gained and evidence of learning through the project.
Bladen County 4-H had 15 members participate in the Southeast Regional Chicken Show. Cloverbud participants (between the ages of 5 and 8) included Cooper Mills, Ruby Stephens, Noah Stephens, Noah White, Fox Sutton, Shelby Herring, Ellie Kinlaw, Bristol Allen and Brooke Jernigan. Junior participants (between 9 and 13) were Aubrey Schwable, Luke Barber, Chelsea Barnes, Landon Herring and Joshua Lennon. Our Senior participant (between 14 and 18) was Olivia Barnes. There were 5 youth who were not able to be at the show, but participated in raising birds. They were Harlie Shaw, Aidan Trinidad, Lena Damasco-Trinidad, Lee Barnes, and Gavin Elks.
The local youth brought home several ribbons and medals.
This is the fourth year that we have offered the Regional Chicken Project in our area. Initially, over 80 kids signed up representing Bladen, Brunswick, Cumberland, Hoke, Montgomery and Robeson Counties. Recognition and ribbons were given to all Cloverbuds ages 5 to 8 for their participation in showmanship and record books.
Ribbons were presented to the following youth for their achievements in the Showmanship and breed classes:
Senior Showmanship
1st Ambrosia Carthens
2nd Ashlyn Johnson
3rd Marla Hughes
4th Savannah Geroux
5th Logan Paxton
Red Sex Links
1st Braxton Swain
2nd Jamie Moore
3rd Ashlyn Johnson
Broilers
1st Olivia Barnes
2nd Landon Herring
3rd Noah White
4-H 9-10 year old Books
1st Aubrey Schwable
2nd Dade Bostleman
3rd Olivia Ryan-Hobbs
3rd Anthony Bosler
4-H 13-15 year old Books
1st Marla Hughes
FFA Middle School
1st Lillian Crowder
Junior Showmanship
1st Luke Barber
2nd Chase Lindsey
3rd Caleb Locklear
4th Hector Hughes
5th Italia Hall
Black Laced Silver Wyandottes
1st Megan Hoffman
2nd Luke Barber
3rd Ashlyn Johnson
4-H 11-12 year old Books
1st Chase Lindsey
2nd Hector Hughes
3rd Luke Barber
4-H 16-18 year old Books
1st Ashlyn Johnson
2nd Olivia Barnes
3rd Anthony Bosler
FFA High School
1st Savanna Geroux
2nd Nolan Chavis
Parents and youth reported that improved responsibility and improved communication as a result of their participation in the Regional Chicken Project.
For more information about youth livestock programming in your county, please contact your local NC Cooperative Extension Office in Bladen County at 910-862-4591.
