Posted: January 3, 2024
Pennsylvania 4-H members excelled in competition at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, held recently at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. This event is aimed at developing leadership and decision-making skills in youth who are interested in poultry and poultry products.
Pennsylvania contestants, coaches, and chaperones
The poultry judging team earned second place overall and second place in the production hens division. The team included Emily Bechdel and Adelaide Miller, of Clinton County, and Samantha Brown and Curtis Houser, of Centre County.
Poultry judging teaches participants to make logical decisions, use reasoning skills, and communicate decisions. They also learn to use U.S. Department of Agriculture grading criteria to determine the quality of ready-to-cook poultry and eggs.
Miller earned second place overall as an individual and received a gold pin, plaque, and $225 prize. Bechdel ranked third overall as an individual, earning a gold pin, plaque, and $200 prize.
Pennsylvania ranked first as a team in the market poultry division. As an individual, Bechdel also earned first place in the market poultry division.
Also competing at the conference was the avian bowl team, which consisted of Jessica Sherman and Brianna Whaley from Crawford County. This event tests contestants' knowledge of several species of poultry, as well as food safety, physiology, nutrition, eggs, and related subjects.
"Participating in animal science knowledge contests teaches youth about their 4-H animal science projects and increases their knowledge level about those projects," said Kirsten Dubbs, Penn State Extension 4-H animal science specialist. "In addition, these contests provide opportunities to learn and practice a host of other life skills, such as decision-making, teamwork, evaluating on the fly, memorization, and recall."
The Pennsylvania Livestock Association provides financial support to 4-H teams traveling for these types of contests. An industry-sponsored poultry endowment in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences also helps cover costs for national poultry contest participants.
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the United States Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring, and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website.
