Local 4-H members compete in national poultry, egg conference

The 2011 National Poultry Bowl and Egg Conference was held November 16-17 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

The annual conference allows 4-H’ers from all over the country to compete in educational events that help them learn to make and defend decisions, speak publicly and gain poultry related skills.

At the 2011 National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, 144 senior 4-H’ers, representing 24 states, participated as teams or individuals in the various events.

Twenty teams and three individuals participated in the poultry judging contest and 14 teams competed in the Avian Bowl contest.

Representing Minnesota in the Avian Bowl was a team from Douglas and Pope County 4-H – Megen Way-Garfield, Chippewans 4-H Club; Jill Cihlar-Glenwood, Waska Wonders 4-H Club, Zoey Gustafson-Starbuck, Waska Wonders 4-H Club; Jared Sorenson-Brooten, Busy Beavers 4-H Club.

The team was coached by Doreen Cihlar of Glenwood and Jane Way of Garfield. The team from Minnesota 4-H competed at the regional and state project bowls before being selected for the national contest.

This annual 4-H conference includes separate competitive events. In the poultry judging contest, participants are required to judge ready-to-cook chicken and turkey carcasses, live production hens and market eggs.

In the chicken and turkey barbecuing contests, participants barbecue three chicken halves or two turkey fillets and give an oral presentation on the corresponding poultry industry.

In the egg preparation demonstration contest, participants prepare an egg dish and give an oral presentation on the nutritional value and versatility of eggs.

In addition to these events, the conference includes an Avian Bowl contest, which is a round robin tournament in which the contestants are required to answer questions regarding poultry science, poultry meat and egg production and information about the poultry industries.

The day before the competition, all contestants were invited to participate in a Poultry Career Opportunities Workshop in which leaders from different areas of the poultry industry shared the opportunities available for youth in the industry from hands-on management in production to health of flocks to a variety of many other jobs in the industry in which they may not actually work with birds at all.

The 4-H’ers were given information on colleges that offer courses and degrees specifically directed toward the poultry industry and tips on what employers are looking for when hiring for jobs.

Tags: country, poultry, 4h, avian