4-H Poultry Project

Rhode Island Red: Grand Champion – Mack Bass and Reserve Champion – John Michael Cooper

Buff Orpington: Grand Champion – John Hancock and Reserve Champion – Bryce Thompson

Barred Rock: Grand Champion – Clayten Behrendt and Reserve Champion – Ahlivia Lannom

4-H Chick Chain

PLEASE READ THE CHICK CHAIN APPLICATION CAREFULLY. 

Each year approximately 60 Wilson County 4-H’ers will be selected to participate in the 4-H Poultry Project. To be eligible for the project, 4-H members must be able to raise and care for 25 chickens at his/her home. They must provide the required housing, facilities, and feed to produce well-grown, healthy pullets that the 4-H’ers could take pride in having produced. 4-H Agent may schedule periodic farm visits throughout the summer to visit the 4-H member’s chickens. This program is outlined below:

• Twenty-five (25) baby chicks will be given to selected Wilson County 4-Her’s.
• The member or parent agrees to pick-up the chicks at Edwards Feed in Lebanon during Spring Break.  Please make sure to bring a suitable container to transport baby chicks.
• Each 4-H Club member will agree to feed and care for his or her chicks and return six (6) of their best pullets to the County Poultry Show and Auction that will be held in the Pop Smart Livestock Barn at the Ward Agricultural Center on the last Saturday in July.  The show will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the auction at 10:00 a.m.  These pullets will compete for prizes to be awarded and then will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The money from the sale of the pullets will go to the 4-H Fund to continue the Chick-Chain project. After this obligation is met, the other chickens are to be used as the 4-H’er desires.
• Should the 4-H’er not bring the required number of pullets to the show, he or she will be expected to pay a $150 non-return fee and will forfeit the opportunity to participate in future years. 4-H depends of the money made from the sale to pay for the baby chicks, awards and prizes next year.
• Cash awards and ribbons will be awarded on the merit system at the county show: i.e., Grand Champion, Reserve Champion, blue or red.

Applications will be available during the month of December. Completed applications will only be accepted between January 13-25, 2025

The Chick Chain begins in March and will end at the show in July.

2025 Chick Chain Application

There is a $20 registration fee to participate in the Chick Chain.

4-H Poultry Judging

4-H youth can also participate in poultry judging. In this group, youth will learn how to judge laying hens, grade eggs and identify and grade poultry cuts of meat.

Poultry Judging begins in the Fall. The Central Region Contest to be held on September 25,2025 at the Rutherford County Community Center

There is a small fee to join poultry judging. Scholarships are available for all our programs.

2024-2025 Poultry Judging Information

2024 Central Region Poultry Judging Contest Results: Junior, Jr High, Senior High

2024 State Poultry Judging Contest Results:

For more information on the poultry group, contact Morgan Beaty at 615-444-9584!