Decatur County 4-H competes in Poultry Judging Contest

Published 10:32 am Thursday, May 19, 2022

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The 4-H Southwest Area Poultry Judging Contest was held Friday, April 22, 2022, in Tifton, Georgia. Decatur County 4-H students participating in the competition were Landon Temples, Mercer Murray, Spencer Blanton, Pate Beckham, AnnaLeigh Mobley, and Graham Beckham. The Decatur County team earned 5th place honors at the district contest. Participating in practices, but unable to attend the competition were Evan Sigman, Carlee Dollar and Hines Roberts. Poultry judging is the largest judging event in the Georgia 4-H Program, with 560 students participating across the state this year.

During the contest, participants judge both live chickens and market poultry, identify parts of birds already prepared for market, and evaluate eggs for their quality and readiness for sale. Following the evaluation of a live production class, participants are asked to justify their placing decisions through a set of oral reasons.

Students learn and understand standards used in poultry and egg production and marketing while preparing for the Poultry Judging contest. Participants apply these standards in decision-making situations that call for critical evaluation. Beyond the contest, 4-H’ers apply the skills they learn as poultry consumers in grocery stores and restaurants.

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Georgia 4-H partners with specialists at the University of Georgia for all its livestock programs. The UGA Poultry Science Department has a vital and long-standing relationship with 4-H. Poultry science faculty travel and prepare the area level contests as well as the state contest, taking care to provide consistent and accurate classes for every 4-H’er.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 225,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information about Decatur County 4-H, call the UGA Extension Office at 229-248-3033 or visit www.georgia4h.org.