Small Stock Meeting 9/8/25
Website
The Bird Finder page on our website is still active, with breeders who have birds available. Whether you’re brand new or adding to your flock, this is a great place to connect with local breeders. If you are breeding and want to get ahold of those looking for birds please fill out the form and get your name out there.
While you’re there, don’t forget that the website also has event sign-ups, the most current schedule, project resources, and important updates like premium book changes. It’s the best place to check in regularly whenever you need information or help with your projects.
What’s New This Year
The premium book will have changes, so be sure to take a careful look when planning your projects after they have been updated. While the U of A website has the book for the year the Poultry Website will also have the most up to date version as well.
There will be no overall showman award this year. Instead, each clinic and qualifying show you attend will earn you an entry into the end-of-year raffle. The more you attend, the more chances you’ll have to win!
Each exhibitor is limited to 10 pens this year (a pen may consist of one to three animals, depending on the class or project entered). This is a change from last year’s 20-pen limit. Please also note that if the number of commercial turkeys increases significantly from last year, Heritage breed turkeys may not be allowed to attend the fair due to space constraints. If this situation arises, exhibitors will be notified in advance of check-in.
Reminders
To be eligible for fair and project recognition, poultry exhibitors must attend at least two county-approved events before the Pima County Fair in April. These can be any combination of shows and clinics: two shows, two clinics, or one show and one clinic.
To receive attendance credit for any show, you must send us a picture from the event. This picture will also serve as your raffle entry for that show. No picture means no attendance credit and no raffle entry. Volunteers are welcome at Fur & Feather and Tucson Fancy Fowl, so please consider helping out!
To participate at the fair, each exhibitor must have at least one bird entered in a breed show and must participate in Showmanship. The Showmanship bird and the breed bird can be the same bird, and any bird may be used for Showmanship except commercial meat birds and commercial turkeys.
All poultry exhibitors are also required to complete their YQCA certification by January 31st. A copy of the certificate must be emailed in once completed. Please check with your club leader to confirm whether you should send in your certificate individually or if your leader will be turning them in on behalf of your entire club.
Small Stock Meetings
These meetings are open to all 4-H and FFA participants and their leaders in the Cavy, Pigeon, Poultry, Pygmy Goat, Dairy Goat, Dog, and Rabbit projects. They are held in person at the Pima County Extension Office, located at 4210 North Campbell Avenue at Roger Rd. The meetings are designed to provide information and discuss upcoming deadlines and events. Our first meeting will be on September 8th to kick off the new year. After that, meetings are planned for the second Monday of each month, with dates on October 13th and November 10th. Please note that Small Stock Meetings are subject to change, so be sure to double-check the schedule before attending.
Poultry Clinics
Our first clinic will be held on September 27th and will focus on poultry showmanship, covering everything you need to know about presenting yourself and your birds as well what you can study. The second clinic will take place on November 8th and will focus on poultry health and care, providing practical information to keep your flock thriving.
Both clinics will be held at the University of Arizona Campus Agricultural Center, Mobile Building, located at 4101 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719.
No pre-registration is required—just come ready to learn! Be sure to sign in when you arrive though to receive credit toward your attendance requirements and to be entered into the raffle.
Shows
The Apache County Show is October 24th–25th (they also keep an active Facebook page for updates). The Fur & Feather Show will be held November 1st, with registration details still to come. The Tucson Fancy Fowl Show is tentatively scheduled for the weekend after Thanksgiving —we’ll share the confirmed date as soon as it’s official.
Deadlines
Turkey orders are due by midnight on October 31st!
YQCA certification is due January 31st, be sure to email a copy!
ZSuite registration should be completed as soon as possible but the deadline is December 15th with the county (your club may have a different date so be sure to ask).
Donations & Support
We’re always looking for ways to make our Poultry Project events and the fair experience the best they can be for our kids, and your support makes a huge difference! If you would like to donate, we welcome birds for the Fur & Feather silent auction, items for the Poultry Field Day raffle, giveaways or prizes for kids at clinics, shows, or the fair, or even monetary donations to help cover things like quail cages, turkey cages, prizes, buckles, and more.
No contribution is too small, and every donation helps provide more learning opportunities and fun experiences for our exhibitors. If you are interested in donating or helping out with your time, please get in touch with me now—we greatly appreciate your generosity!
