Participation jumps in Linn County poultry contest

CENTRAL CITY -- Chickens clucked and feathers ruffled wildly in the sweltering heat at the Linn County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

But the warm weather and stuffy indoor arena at the Linn County Fair didn't scare any local youngsters interested in showing their prized birds.

In fact, participation in the annual Linn County 4-H Fair Poultry Show has grown rapidly as of late. Five years ago, only 17 Linn County kids entered around 75 birds in the contest. But last year, 56 kids entered the contest, bringing with them nearly 400 birds. That total easily eclipsed the 262 birds that were entered in the Iowa State Fair. And this year, nearly 80 10-to-17-year-old kids signed up for the contest, making it the biggest poultry show in Iowa.

"There are a lot of really nice kids," said Linn County Poultry Leader Jackie Bohlken. "We try to take their ideas and make them feel like it's their fair . . . If you make it fun and educational, they'll keep coming back."

All the contest's participants receive a prize, but those who finish at the top of each of the 20 categories win a trophy or a handcrafted banner. The birds are critiqued on their correctness and judges also test kids' knowledge and showmanship.

Officials set up cages capable of accommodating around 500 birds in advance of Saturday's check-in for Sunday's judging, which is likely to last all day. Some birds' cages were adorned with rubber ducks, fancy cloths or name tags. Chicken names ranged from simple ones like Fay to one bird named after KCRG Chief Meteorologist Joe Winters.

"It's a big chicken prom . . . We try to make it lively," Bohlken said of the draw at the Linn County Fair. "It's a very good atmosphere. People like to be involved in something encouraging to their child."

Bohlken also said one of the benefits of raising chickens is kids who live on farms can start caring for birds and eventually work with other animals alongside their parents and older siblings.

Center Point resident Maree Bean was named the show's queen after winning an essay contest on how poultry changed her life.

"It's a huge learning opportunity," said Bean, 15, of poultry. "It's a great way to start on the farm yard and get used to the chores . . . I love poultry because it teaches responsibility and it's a fun way to work with animals."