Last year was the first year our county did 4-H Poultry showmanship and it didn't go to well, actually no one even realy knew it was going on. I have rouen ducks and have no clue on how to do showmanship on a duck (full grown) do you? Our county's resorces on showmanship are very small. Please help me with some things you do in a step by step process or how ever you would like to explain your self.

Hi again, Suzan. I have been a 4H poultry leader for a lot of years. We have a good showmanship component at our fair, but it has taken many years to develop, mostly because of the attitudes of the kids and parents who show large animals, and kind of stick poultry entries in as an afterthought. I started by making sure I had a hand in selecting the judge. We show in open poultry shows, so I recruited trained poultry judges to do our fair show. They add so much more dimension by way of attitude and knowledge, plus expect much more from the birds and kids than someone who is just judging on condition of the bird. Believe me, the first year there was a lot of griping! Before the next fair, I went to other animal clubs and offered clinics on birds and showing birds. Showing the kids the standard of Perfection, letting them learn about their particular birds, showing them how to groom, clean, etc. In short, letting them know that just like any other animal, there is a standard that their poultry is judged against. I found that once they realized that, the kids were eager to do showmanship with their birds the following fair. Showmanship at our fair consists of 3 components. Handling the bird in front of the judge so he can see its condition, type, etc. Then the child is asked questions about the bird - from how they got it ready and how they acquired it or raised it, to breed and type questions. After all the birds are judged in this manner, we have a separate "showmanship" category - novice, junior, senior and master. Appropriate questions are asked about poultry in general, and they get harder and harder. Most of the time, waterfowl is judged in the cage, rather than the child carrying it up to the judge. The judge observes how they stand, move, etc., so we often have a larger pen the birds are put into so they don't just sit there! The American Poultry Association has a website. There you should be able to find information about their APA youth program. They have great materials and support information that your county would probably get free or for a very small fee. The youth program also has regional directors that love to help out. I think have successful showmanship is all in the attitude of the people organizing it - and most importantly - participating in it. Try the APA - if you can't find it, post here, and I'll get you the info. Good luck. Colleen

Colleen, I am hoping you can help me. I am also a 4H leader in NY state. I have offered to set up the poultry show for the fair next year, and we expect about 80 entries, accorrding to the enrollments, and how many kids have poultry. How do you set up the pre entries, are they done like the horse, or beef would be, with a pre entry form filled out, mailed in or no show? Do you assign the cages in adveance, according to entrie, seperating bantems and standards?Do yo offer other classes, along with showmanship? Do yo have a list of judges who would work for LOW 4 H wages? We have great infomation for showmanship,thru the county, and will be setting up a few clinics to teach kids. We are also having Cornell come down to set up a 1 day class on basic poultry for the kids. Thanks***** Mary Ann

Hi Mary Ann - Hey, I'm from New York, too - Orleans County. Our fair is strictly a youth fair - no open entries allowed. Birds have to be preentered by July 1, just like the other livestock. The county sends out the fair books with all the entry forms in them, and if entries aren't in by the 1st, you can't show the animal. Entries have to be returned with the pullorum certificate. Showmanship is preentry also as a separate class. We cage by 4-H class as specified in the fair book - I think this is a state-wide standard. It makes it easier to keep track during judging, and when assigning cages! So, yes, we cage bantam and large fowl together - cocks, cockerals, pullets, hens, egg production, meat production, pairs, trios, pen and record , etc.each together by class, not breed or variety. We have an outside pavillion for the waterfowl and turkeys, and they are area caged by breed, as they are all in the "ALL OTHER FOWL" class. This is so different than an open show, it takes some getting used to if you show other than 4-H. All cages are assigned in advance, otherwise check in is a nightmare. I do tags as soon as I get all the entries, and have them on the cages well before fair starts. Everyone has to check in each of their birds before they can cage them. This avoids many problems, as often the kids have entered the wrong class, or more than allowed in a class, etc. The rules can be confusing. We also check for lice, illness, etc. It's tough to send birds home, but if you run a tight ship, everyone is really happier in the long run. Takes mondo planning though. Let me know where you are located, and I can let you know judges fairly close to you. Most are willing to travel an hour or so to do fairs - but they book up early - and graciously take the $50 or so they're paid. We've even had them just do it for lunch! Have a good one - Colleen

Colleen, Thanks for the note! My e mail address is whipple@mindspring.com I would love to ask you a whole bunch of questions! Do you have an e mail I could write to? We are located in Canandaigua, Ontario county. The agent in out County is diane hazen, and we are checking into as much info as possible to set up a good show at the fair. It will also be strickly youth, and exactly what do yo offer for classes. and how do you sererate Novice for showmanship,from the kids who showed last year? Do they advance by age, experince, or what? Thanks!
mary ann

Hi Mary Ann - sure, my email is embden@aol.com. mail any time, and I will mail you, too. Novice is for first-timers, no matter how old (the rules give an age range, but I don't follow it unless the child insists, or they are knowlegeable). Each year they move up the ranks to compete. There is a winning showman and a reserve showman in each class. The winning senior showman competes with the master showman from the previous year. I'll email more later. Colleen

Colleen,
i have a meeting with the extention agent on Thur. to set up County fair. They are asking about awards to be given, the Poultry Ass. is willing to donate tropheys, we have to list the tropheys needed. Some adults have suggested that they are in catogorys, for various reasons, that are not always listed as the Best Hen, best Rooster, Best Overall, beacuse, they feel the same child may recieve 2 out of the 4 awarded, and they feel that 4H is not about raising the BEST,,, but about the child doing his best!Kinda like that garbage they teach in school, lets make every one feel good. So, I need to have a list ready, of awards, to be gfiven by tommorrow. I have Listed 1)Best Rooster 2)Best Hen 3)Best Pullet 4) Best Waterfowl 5)Grand Champion Overall 6)Herdmanship 7)master Showmanship Unfortunatly, I feel that I am missing the point of spreading the awards around. Is there something I am missing?I have classes listed as Novice showmanship. Junior, ans Senior showmanship. herdsmanship, 4H poultyr Judging of production Birds, Egg Quality class, Costume class, and Miscellaneous species class, to include water fowl, guineas, pigeons, and quail.I would love some suggestions form you! I have put a lot of time and thought into this, but would LOVE your advice***Mary Ann

Hi Mary Ann - I sent you an email today giving you my phone #. If you email me your phone # I will gladly call you - it will be more productive than on here - I keep getting knocked off by aol before I can post! Even on Email. I want to help you, but it's hard on here! Just briefly, it's true that in 4H a "danish" judging system is used - but you are not being judged against just yourself - you're being judged against a standard that the child meets to varying degrees - white, red, blue being awarded according to how well the exhibit and effort accomplish the goal of meeting the standard! It's not to make Jane or Johnny feel good - you're right! In my opinion, true "self esteem" only comes from interest, effort and accomplishment being recognized, not mere presence. Each exhibitor gets a white, red, or blue small ribbon for their bird after individual judging. Then comes the competition - and it is a competition!! That's how people learn and strive if they are so inclined! We give a trophy for Best in class, and a rosette for Reserve in each class. Showman in each category gets a plaque, Reserve a rosette, except for Master Showman - he or she gets an engraved plate. We go for as many big awards as possible - it does not come out even, but you're right - the point is not to make everyone feel happy. The point is for everyone to strive to attain Best - either that he or she can be, in the case of presenting their individual exhibits for individual judging, and in competition with their fellows. Many times the same few win all the big awards, but only because they have the knowledge, experience, interest and put in the effort toward them. Anyway, this is too long - Please email me your phone # so I can call you before your meeting - Colleen