Chicks, Coops, and Sunny Days

Hello 4-H Poultry Project Families,

March has arrived, and fair season is quickly approaching! Now is the time to double-check paperwork, complete remaining attendance requirements, and stay focused on preparing birds and exhibitors for a successful experience. The Poultry Project has several important deadlines and events coming up in March and April, so please read carefully and mark your calendars.

Websites

The Poultry Project Website continues to be your main resource as we head into the final stretch before fair. Required forms, paperwork, and the Premium Book are located in the Paperwork section and should be reviewed often as deadlines near. The Events & Deadlines page is also essential for tracking the remaining clinic and key dates. Be sure to check both sections regularly so nothing is overlooked.

Reminders

For families raising Cornish Rock meat pen(s), remember that eligible hatch dates began February 23rd, with March 9th as the final allowable hatch date for fair entry. Cornish Rock chicks are not provided through the county and must be purchased independently. These birds should already be listed on ownership paperwork, even if they were not yet in hand at the time of submission.

Fair registration is currently open and will remain available through March 15th. Registration is available through both the Paperwork page and the Fair Information page on the website. Please remember that fair registration is separate from ownership paperwork, and both are required to participate.

Barn Duty sign-up is also open and runs alongside fair registration. Barn Duty is required for participation and is completed by individual sign-up rather than by club or chapter. Each exhibitor is responsible for one two-hour shift. The Barn Duty sign-up link was emailed on the 26th to families who qualified for fair. If you believe you should have received that email and did not, please let me know as soon as possible.

As deadlines approach quickly, continue reviewing requirements and following up now to avoid last-minute problems.

March– April Preview

Small Stock Meetings

Small Stock Meetings have concluded for this fair season, and there are no additional meetings scheduled prior to fair unless something unexpected comes up.

These meetings brought together leaders from the Cavy, Pigeon, Poultry, Dog, Rabbit, Pygmy Goat, and Dairy Goat projects to share updates, review upcoming events, and answer questions as we prepared for fair.

As we move closer to fair, please watch for updates and important information via email and the events page. If you have questions, be sure to reach out directly so we can make sure everyone is ready to go.

Poultry Clinics

The final Poultry Clinic of the season will be held on March 21st at the University of Arizona Campus Agricultural Center and will focus on preparation for fair. Topics will include what to expect on show days, how to prepare birds and equipment, and tips for presenting yourself confidently in the show ring. Showmanship practice will follow the presentation, please bring your showmanship bird to the clinic.

If you are participating in showmanship practice, you should plan for your bird to remain outside with water until practice begins.

Remember, showmanship is required at fair, all exhibitors must bring a bird that is listed on both their ownership paperwork and their fair registration. This is not a special designation—simply be sure that the bird you plan to use for showmanship is declared as owned and entered for fair.

This clinic serves as the final attendance opportunity of the year. Please sign in clearly upon arrival to receive attendance credit and to be eligible for another raffle entry. Seating is limited and prioritized for 4-H and FFA members, with parents welcome to fill remaining seats if space allows.

Handouts and summaries from this clinic, along with materials from previous clinics, will be posted on the Poultry Project Website in the Blog section for anyone needing a refresher. Materials from this clinic specifically will also be available on the Fair Preparations page.

Shows

March is the final stretch to make sure attendance requirements are complete. All exhibitors must attend two shows or clinics before fair, and the Count Down to County Showmanship Show on March 7th provides one of the last opportunities to meet that requirement. Registration for this full-day event closes on March 4th, and details are posted on the Poultry Project Events & Deadlines. Remember that photos from attended events must be submitted in order to receive credit and be entered into raffles. Stay engaged now so you remain eligible and well-prepared for fair.

Fair

Fair registration will remain open through March 15th. Registration is only for birds that will be taken to fair. Each participant is limited to a maximum of 10 pens—please consult the Premium Book for the official definition of a “pen.” After March 15th, only scratches will be allowed, and no additions may be made. Heritage turkeys will again be allowed at fair this year, with each exhibitor limited to one Heritage turkey pen.

April workdays are scheduled for April 4th or April 11th, and attendance at one of these is required to participate in fair— don’t forget to sign in, or it won’t count. Poultry Fair check-in will be held April 20th from noon to 6:00 PM, with all birds first going through veterinary inspection. Volunteers are welcome and appreciated on poultry check-in day—this is a busy time, and extra help makes a big difference in keeping things running smoothly. Showmanship will take place Tuesday, April 21st, followed by the breed show on Wednesday, April 22nd. Please be aware that we have a large number of exhibitors (more than last year) and birds this year. Both show days will be long and will include periods of waiting between classes. Even so, exhibitors must remain attentive and prepared to enter the ring promptly when called. A tentative schedule will be posted ahead of time so families know the general order of events, and we will endeavor to follow it as closely as possible; however, timing may shift as the day progresses.

Before these dates arrive, make sure all attendance requirements and fair registration are fully completed. Missing items will prevent participation.

Forms, paperwork, and fair helper information can be found on the Poultry Project Website under the Paperwork and Fair Information sections. Please reach out with questions now so everything can be resolved before deadlines pass.

Donations & Support

We sincerely appreciate the continued support from our project families through volunteering, donating raffle items, and contributing supplies. These efforts make clinics, shows, and fair possible for our youth.

Volunteers truly are the backbone of our program, and every hour given helps create meaningful opportunities for exhibitors. Anyone interested in helping in any capacity—including during fair— is always encouraged to reach out.

Keisha Cassidy Amanda Osborne