On June 18, 2020, the 4-H and FFA from counties across the Southeast region congregated on a Zoom call to host the sixth annual Regional Chicken Show! We had 39 youth ages 5 to 18 involved in 4-H and FFA from counties across the Southeast region involved in submitting videos of themselves showing their hens and broilers they have been raising and caring for over the last few months and/or completing their project record books.
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 three training were provided in each county to teach the youth about proper care, biosecurity, showmanship techniques, record keeping, and more. The competition was revised slightly to adjust for the current circumstances, but the contest still included a virtual showmanship area and project record book area as in previous years. Showmanship requires participants to handle their bird and verbally share their knowledge about the anatomy and breed to a judge. Project record books are 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 7) included Micah Dempsey, Millicent Kinlaw, Kennedy Merritt, and Samuel Stephens. In our 4-H 8 to 10 age category Ellie Kinlaw, Kynslie Kinlaw, Cooper Mills, Noah Stephens, and Ruby Stephens. In our 4-H 11 to 12 age categories were Zoey Dempsey and Mattie Kinlaw. In our 4-H 13 to 15 age categories were Luke Barber and Harley Dempsey. Lastly, in our High School FFA category was Maegan Burney and Kymora Darciel. Our youth brought home several ribbons and medals.
This is the sixth year that we have offered the Regional Chicken Project in our area. While the venue was slightly different than the serene waters at the NC FFA Center at White Lake like previous years, we were grateful to see the participants in the virtual format. Initially, participants signed up representing Bladen, Brunswick, Cumberland, Hoke, Montgomery, Robeson, New Hanover, and Sampson 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:
Project Book Winners
4-H 8-10 YEAR OLD
1st Ellie Kinlaw
2nd Terralynn Edwards
3rd Matthew DeUnger
4-H Cloverbud
Luke Dennis
Micah Dempsey
Destiny Davis
Reese DeUnger
Millicent Kinlaw
Kennedy Merritt
Samuel Stephens
4-H 11-12 YEAR OLD
1st Zoey Dempsey
2nd Caroline Smith
3rd Martha Sessoms
4-H 13-15 YEAR OLD
1st Sara Uharriet
2nd Luke Barber
3rd Drew DeUnger
4-H 16-18 YEAR OLD
1st Amber Lackey
High School FFA
1st Tavis Cunningham
2nd Dakota Brewer
3rd Shiloh Henderson
Chicken Showmanship Winners
4-H 8-10 YEAR OLD
1st Ellie Kinlaw
2nd Cooper Mills
3rd Matthew DeUnger
4th Madilynn Bowles
5th Terralynn Edwards
6th Denise Jordan
7th Madison Lackey
4-H Cloverbud
Destiny Davis
Micah Dempsey
Luke Dennis
Reese DeUnger
Kennedy Merritt
Samuel Stephens
4-H 11-12 YEAR OLD
1st Zoey Dempsey
2nd Ayden Bowles
3rd Bryson Fruehling
4th Kylie Fruehling
4-H 13-15 YEAR OLD
1st Luke Barber
2nd Sarah Uharriet
3rd Drew DeUnger
4th Harley Dempsey
4-H 16-18 YEAR OLD
1st Amber Lackey
No Chicken Available
1st Tavis Cunningham
2nd Savannah Geroux
3rd Shiloh Henderson
4th Dakota Brewer
Parents reported that their children improved in responsibility and/or work ethic 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.
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