By Brandy Lewis
Greenville- The poultry barn was standing room only as the coveted Grand and
Reserve Overall Meat Entries were being judged. Entries included Grand and Reserve Chicken Broilers, Chicken Roasters, Hen Turkey and Tom Turkey. It didn’t take the judge long to pick his champions. He took the Grand Champion banner over to the Grand Champion Chicken Roaster Pen and then surprised the crowd by taking the Reserve Champion banner to the Grand Champion Market Hen Turkey.
The crowd cheered and clapped for both. Pictures were being taken by proud parents while their children grinned ear to ear.
Grand Champion Overall Meat Entry at the Darke County Jr. Fair went to nine year old Kate Hartzell with her Grand Champion Chicken Roasters. This is her first year taking chickens and her second year in 4-H. Hartzell also brought a pair of Buttercup hens to fair. A member of The Livestock in General 4-H club, she is hoping to take rabbits in the future. She bought her winning pair of roaster chicks from the Murray McMurray Hatchery and fed them cracked corn and rolled oats. The fourth grader from Mississinawa Valley Elementary School participates in volleyball and dance when not working with her 4-H projects. Her Grand Champion Overall Meat Entry will sell in the Jr. Fair small animal sale.
Reserve Champion Overall Meat Entry went to Blake Addis. A 12 year 4-H member of Blue Angels 4-H club and Darke County 4-H Beef Club won with his FFA Project a Grand Champion Turkey Hen. His 4-H projects this year were fancy chickens and bantam ducks. Besides 4-H, where he is Vice President, a Jr. Fair Board member representative for the poultry department, FFA where he is Vice President, he is also is Treasurer of the Business Professionals of America. As a junior at Franklin Monroe high school, he participates in basketball, track and cross country. Addis’s favorite things at the fair are, “eating the food here and just hanging out.”
He goes on to add, “I like showing chickens quite a bit. I like busy days, getting up early and getting birds ready for show.” Reserve Champion Overall Meat Entry Grand Champion Turkey Hen will sell at the Darke County Jr. Fair small animal sale.
Congratulations to these two competitors and we look forward to seeing more of you in the future.
Photos: Above: Grand and Reserve Overall Meat Entries (Kate Hartzell G-C right) were the big winners in the poultry barn Sunday. Below: Blake Addis gets his turkey hen judged. CNO Photos by Brandy Lewis
