• Heritage Chicken Meat Pens—a rewarding and educational experience rooted in tradition! These birds offer a unique opportunity to work with breeds that have shaped poultry history and are recognized for their quality, hardiness, and character.

    Heritage chickens are APA-recognized large fowl breeds that meet a specific set of criteria. To qualify as “heritage,” birds must be:

    • Naturally mating

    • Slow growing

    • Long-lived and hardy

    • Raised to meet the APA Standard of Perfection

    These breeds were developed over generations for dual-purpose use—egg laying and meat production—and many are prized for their flavorful meat, adaptability, and distinctive appearance. They also tend to have strong genetics and thrive in both farm and backyard settings.

    Exhibitors in this project will raise a trio (3 birds) of a single heritage breed of large fowl. Birds may be purchased or hatched at home, and you are not required to purchase through the Pima County 4-H Poultry Project.

    Birds must be between 9 months and 1 year old at the time of the fair. This means they should hatch between April 27, 2025 and July 20, 2025.

    • You may enter up to two trios (6 birds total) in the Heritage Meat Pen class

    • Trios should be uniform in size and weight

    • There is no minimum or maximum weight requirement, as each breed varies—check the APA standard weights for your breed to guide your project

    Judging Will Focus On:

    • Uniformity of the trio

    • Production quality

    • Overall health and condition

    Helpful Resources to Get Started:

    We also recommend exploring the American Poultry Association Website to learn more about recognized breeds and purchase the Standard of Perfection, which is a valuable resource for exhibitors preparing for showmanship and breed evaluation.

    Be sure to check the Pima County Fair Premium Book for official project requirements and entry details. Also be sure to connect with your 4-H leader if you have questions about raising or showing Heritage Chickens.

    Please note: At the fair, the Heritage Meat Pen Grand and Reserve Champion winners are required to go to auction.

  • Heritage turkeys make a fantastic and rewarding 4-H poultry project! These birds are quite different from the broad-breasted commercial turkeys commonly raised for meat. Recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA), there are eight approved heritage varieties, each with unique colors and characteristics.

    Heritage turkeys are slower growing, but they are known for being friendly, curious, and intelligent. They can be raised for both meat and egg production, and unlike commercial turkeys, they can naturally reproduce and often have a much longer lifespan. These qualities make them excellent birds for youth who want to learn about traditional, sustainable poultry practices.

    To help you get started, we’ve gathered some helpful links and guides:

    General Turkey Care and Raising Guides:

    Heritage Turkey–Specific Resources:

    As with all poultry projects, we encourage you to connect with your 4-H leader, project coordinator, or superintendent for personalized guidance, especially if this is your first time working with turkeys.

    It should be know that due to a limited number of turkey cages, if there is a shortage of space at fair, Commercial Turkeys will be given priority. In this case, the number of Heritage Turkey entries may be reduced or eliminated. Affected exhibitors will be notified prior to check-in if space limitations impact their entries.

  • Quail can be a fascinating and fun 4-H poultry project, especially for youth interested in hatching and exploring alternative poultry species. While they are allowed at the Pima County Fair, it’s important to understand how quail fit into the larger 4-H and poultry show world.

    Quail are not recognized in the Standards of Perfection by the American Poultry Association (APA) or American Bantam Association (ABA). This means they can be exhibited at the Pima County Fair, but they are not eligible to compete at APA- or ABA-sanctioned breed shows or many open shows outside of fair. In this way, they are similar to commercial turkeys and Cornish Cross chickens in terms of show opportunities.

    Most educational resources for 4-H poultry focus on chickens and larger fowl like turkeys. Currently, the most widely available information on quail highlights hatching and basic care, especially for Coturnix quail. Below are a few helpful links to get started:

    General Quail Care and Raising Guides:

    Show and Project Information:
    According to the Premium Book, exhibitors may enter two pens of quail, with each entry consisting of three birds—for a total of up to six birds across two cages. Pen types include:

    • Meat pens: 3 males

    • Laying pens: 3 females

    • Breeding pens: 1 male and 2 females

    Only Coturnix or Jumbo Coturnix quail are accepted, but any color variety is allowed. Birds must be between 6 weeks and 12 months old at fair time, meaning they must hatch between April 27, 2025, and March 9, 2026. All quail must be leg banded.

    While quail may be brought to the showmanship table at fair, families are strongly encouraged to also consider raising chickens or other poultry recognized in the APA and ABA Standards. These breeds provide more opportunities to participate in county shows, open shows, and educational events. Additionally, quail can be flighty and more difficult to handle, which may not make them the best choice for first-time showmanship participants.

    Getting Started:
    If you’re looking for a source of Coturnix quail, one option is:

    If you’re especially passionate about quail, you may also want to explore the American Coturnix Breeders Association:

    As with all poultry projects, we encourage you to connect with your 4-H leader, project coordinator, or superintendent for guidance—especially if this is your first time working with quail.

  • Guinea fowl are a unique and exciting option for your 4-H poultry project! These eye-catching birds are known for their loud calls, alert personalities, and usefulness around the farm. They’re not only fun to raise, but they also offer practical benefits like natural pest control—guineas love to eat ticks, insects, and other unwanted bugs—and they act as excellent "watchdogs", loudly alerting you to any unfamiliar activity or predators.

    Guinea fowl are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) with four accepted varieties, making them eligible for breed shows and APA-sanctioned events. While they can be more independent and flighty than chickens, they are hardy, low-maintenance birds once established and can be raised for meat and eggs as well.

    Their unique appearance and behavior make them a great conversation starter and a valuable addition to your flock.

    Here are some helpful resources to get you started:

    As always, be sure to connect with your 4-H leader if you have questions about raising or showing guinea fowl.