WHITE LAKE — Last month, on May 2, the lakeside picnic shelter at the North Carolina FFA Center at White Lake was converted to a show field for the evening — a show for chickens.
Some 60 youth, ages 5 to 18 and involved in 4-H and FFA from counties across the Southeast region, came out to show their hens and broilers, livestock 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, in 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.
This is the third year that the Regional Chicken Project has been offered in the area. Initially, over 100 kids signed up representing Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson, 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:
Jr. Showmanship
1st — Luke Barber — Bladen County
2nd — Jacie Kinlaw — Bladen County
3rd — Valencia Banaduc — Cumberland County
4th — Sami Drake — Cumberland County
5th — Chase Lewis — Cumberland County
Sr. Showmanship
1st — Ashlyn Johnson — Cumberland County
2nd — Nayeli Estrada — Robeson County
3rd — Meagen Butler — Robeson County
4th — Lupita Santes — Robeson County
5th — Isabella Dugarte — Robeson County
Barred Rock Hen Class
1st — Lucas Collins — Columbus County
2nd — Braxton Swain — Cumberland County
3rd — Jadakiss Smith — Robeson County
Golden Comet Hen Class
1st — Rylie McDonald — Sampson County
2nd — Isabelle Dugarte — Robeson County
3rd — Xzania Porter — Columbus County
Broiler Class
1st — Meagan Butler — Robeson County
2nd — Antonio Flores — Robeson County
3rd — Jadakiss Smith — Robeson County
The youth were also recognized later for their achievements in completing required project record books documenting their individual chicken project. Winners received ribbons and cash prizes in the amounts of $15 for 1st place, $10 for 2nd place, and $5 for 3rd place. The project book winners were as follows:
4-H Project Book ages 9-10
1st — Gabrielle Johnson — Hoke County
2nd — Chase Lewis — Cumberland County
3rd — Esaiah Johnson — Hoke County
4-H Project Book ages 11-12
1st — Jacie Kinlaw — Bladen County
2nd — Keegan Lewis — Cumberland County
3rd — Peyton Matthis — Sampson County
4-H Project Book ages 13-15
1st — Ashlyn Johnson — Cumberland County
2nd — Elizabeth Kirby — Columbus County