Top-placing 4-H Market Chicken members are Lydia Covert, Grand Champion Market Chicken; Kamryn Harper, Reserve Champion; Makayla LaRoy, Highly Commended; and Halle Karlson, Commended.

Chautauqua County’s 4-H Poultry Program includes a Market Class for the youth to enter and learn about and show their skill at raising Market Poultry. The 4-H Market Poultry Show was held on June 23 at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds. Art Lundgren from Jamestown was the judge for the day.

Youth begin their project with educational meetings beginning in March. Chicks are hatched in late April and grow to maturity in eight weeks. Mature birds weigh between 10-15 lbs. Each 4-H member may raise as many meat birds as they wish and show their two best pens of two birds.

What is a market poultry show like, you ask? To prepare for show youth handle and bathe their birds often. Then they pair up their best birds and place them in large cages for evaluation. The judge then evaluates each pair of birds based on their confirmation and finish. While judging takes place youth create educational posters for display in the Poultry Barn at the Chautauqua County Fair.

Youth will sell their processed, frozen whole chickens at the 4-H Meat Animal Sale on Friday, July 19, 2019. Buyers can take their birds home with them the day of the sale. The project has grown exponentially over the past two years and there will be 31 pairs of market birds for sale at the 4-H Meat Animal Sale.

The top ranking poultry awards were:

Grand Champion Pair of Market Chickens – Lydia Covert

Reserve Champion Pair of Market Chickens – Kamryn Harper

Highly Commended Pair of Market Chickens – Makayla LaRoy

Commended Pair of Market Chickens – Halle Karlson

For more information on the Poultry Project or other 4-H programs, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.