The 4-H Southwest Area Poultry Judging Contest was held Wednesday, April 11, in Tifton, Ga. Decatur County 4-H students participating in the competition included junior team members Anders Austinson, Abigail Warren, Jacob Christie, Shelby Lane, Branch Austinson, Madison Stanley, Journey Austinson, Brady Hatcher, John Paul Warren, Sidney Hatcher and Michael Hatcher. In a field of 19 teams, representing 18 counties and 169 students, the Decatur County junior team captured seventh place.

Senior team members included Josiah Austinson, Joshua Lane, Stennes Austinson and Levi Adkins. The seniors competed against 15 other teams and were awarded fifth place. Adkins was honored as the second-place high individual. Also, due to their high team score, the senior team was chosen to advance to the state competition, to be held in Athens, Ga.

The students practiced diligently to hone their evaluation skills in the areas of past-production laying hens, identification and grading of ready-to-cook poultry, exterior and interior egg quality, and broken-out egg quality.

These youth also had to support their placement of past production hens by giving oral reasons to a judge. The UGA Poultry Science Staff organized and administered the competition.

For more information about Decatur County 4-H, call the UGA Extension Office at (229) 248-3033 or visit www.georgia4h.org.