4-H’ers Flock to Poultry Judging
By Kasey Hall
Jasper Co. 4-H Agent
Jasper County 4-H had another “egg-citing” record setting year with our Poultry Judging teams!
Several were recently recognized for their high achievements at the district level, and the local club has continued to have an outstanding number of participants. A total of 28 competed including two high school 4-H’ers in the Senior division and 26 fourth – eighth grade 4-H’ers in the Junior division.
They prepared for the district contests by attending practices after school two or three times a week over a five-week period where they learned about grading and evaluating live chickens, the interior and exterior of eggs, meat or carcass quality, candling, parts identification, and processed chicken products.
There they put their knowledge and skills into practice as they worked through the seven classes, judged two sets of birds (white leghorn hens) on their past egg production, took a multiple-choice test on the study material, and presented a set of oral reasons on their placings for one class of hens to an Extension Specialist with UGA’s Poultry Science Department.
Thirteen members of the Junior team and two Seniors competed at the Northwest District contest held in Henry County. There were 95 participants there in the fourth – 12th grades from 12 counties.
The Juniors included Bella Brimberry, Jaxon Davis, Zoey Davis, Callie Harrison, Faraday Harty, Abel Jordan, Cooper Jordan, Andi McFarland, Aria McFarland, Lyla Nesler, Madison Price, Kirby Thornton, and Terry Thornton along with Seniors Adam Brimberry and Samuel Brimberry.
Kasey Hall (4-H Agent and team coach), Extension Administrative Assistant Andrea Di Rito, and volunteer leader Shirley Hotch also attended and assisted with leading the 4-H’ers through the different class rotations.
At the district contest, the 4-H’ers competed both as individuals and as part of their respective team with the four highest individual scores comprising the team score. Cooper Jordan placed first overall in the Junior High Individual contest out of 76 participants in the fourth – eighth grades. The Junior team placed first overall out of 12 teams. The four highest scoring Juniors include Cooper Jordan, Faraday Harty (who was second overall), Andi McFarland (sixth overall), and Abel Jordan (11th overall).
Samuel Brimberry placed sixth and Adam Brimberry placed ninth overall in the Senior division as individuals.
The next day, 13 members of the Junior team participated in the Northeast District contest held in Oglethorpe County where they were 113 participants in the fourth – 12th grades from 13 counties. The Junior team members included Emily Brimberry, Katie Brimberry, Baylee Carter, Jameson Carter, Max Cranfill, Parker Foster, Tori Hayles, Izzy Phillips, Mackenzie Phillips, August Steenhoek, Liam Steenhoek, Canyon Stewart, and Timber Stewart. They were once again accompanied by Kasey Hall and Shirley Hotch who assisted with the contest as rotation leaders.
Emily Brimberry was recognized for placing first overall in the Junior High Individual contest out of 78 participants. The Junior team placed third overall in their division out of 10 teams. The top four Juniors with the highest scores included Emily Brimberry, August Steenhoek, Canyon Stewart, and Liam Steenhoek.
On Friday of that competition week, the 28 Poultry Judging team participants were invited to attend the traditional post-party celebration to review the individual and team scores from the two district contests and enjoy refreshments together. Special thanks goes to 4-H volunteer Dominique Ford for hosting the party at her farm and for providing ice cream bars for the attendees.
She also hosted the team for their bonus practice during spring break when the 4-H’ers were able to visit our white leghorns that she keeps for us. There they were able to practice handling the hens and evaluate them up close like they had to at the district contests. We would also like to thank Brenda Jacobs and her staff members at the Jasper County Senior Center for hosting our team practices after school during the competition season.