Here A Chick............There A Chick...
...............A Chick, Chick Everywhere!

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Anticipation was high, as local 4-H and FFA members and their parents began assembling at the Sulphur Springs High School Vocational Agriculture Building, on Tuesday morning, January 10th. The "early birds" were in line by 7:30 a.m., and others soon began to follow. The baby chickens for the upcoming Hopkins County Market Show were to arrive!

Hopkins County 4-H and FFA students gathered at the SSHS Vocational Agriculture Building, early
Tuesday morning, in anticipation of the arrival of the baby chicks for this year's market show.

Over 1700 baby chicks were delivered to Sulphur Springs for distribution to 68 youth exhibitors, who had previously signed-up for them. Exhibitors each received 26 baby chicks, that they will take home and feed until the show date of Saturday, February 25th. At that time, a pen of three birds will be selected for uniformity and taken to the Hopkins County Market Show for exhibition purposes.

Sulphur Springs FFA Advisor, Dannie Johnson, instructs Dakota Johnson and Matt Bender in the
proper way to uncrate baby chicks, once the chicks had arrived.

"It doesn't sound too hard, when you're talking about it," expressed one of the veteran's of the poultry projects. "But, with the many, many factors that play into the feeding schedule, many times it is very hard to have three uniform chickens to bring back to the show. You must contend with sickness, breast blisters, and other maladies that can keep you from having a pen of chickens that will show well!"

Students at Sulphur Springs, on Tuesday morning, had already prepared a place at home to raise their chicks. Most had already spread a layer of wood shavings on the bottom of the pen and had heat lamps burning, to warm the area around their pens. "You have to have all of the things right and comfortable for the little baby chicks," advised another veteran poultry project participant. "Heat is critical when the chicks are small, and then the older they get, you may be required to use fans to keep them cool. It all depends on the weather!"

Sulphur Springs FFA members Kaitlyn Black, left, and Matt Bender, get their chicks in boxes for delivery to their
pens at home. Each exhibitor was allowed 26 chicks.

Tuesday morning's cool temperatures and "gusty" winds had vocational agriculture teachers moving the chick distribution into the confines of the agriculture shop, where drafts weren't readily exposing the chicks to the cold. And, most were advising their students to make certain that they kept the chicks warm while transporting them home.

"A poultry project has many lessons for your child to learn," advised one of the parents. "Everyone begins the project on the same day, with the same number of chicks, and the winner is determined by who feeds and cares for their 26 chicks the best!"

"Almost anyone can afford a chick project and it is a great project for a beginner, so they can learn the basics of caring for an animal project," inserted another parent. "I would recommend that anyone who hasn't shown before to consider getting chicks, before advancing to a lamb, goat, pig, or especially a steer!"

Poultry exhibitors Colby Temples and Jarrid Horton get their boxes ready to transport their chicks, left, while
another exhibitor, right, loads his baby chicks for transportation.

It is just over 6 weeks until the Hopkins County Market Show and students all across Hopkins County will be rising early every morning to feed, water, exercise, and even play the radio for their chicks, in anticipation of winning Grand Champion honors with them. Somewhere among the over 1700 chicks delivered on Tuesday, are those three chicks that will win the prize! May the best poultry exhibitor win!

In parting, one Sulphur Springs FFA member exclaimed, "I think my chicks look like they will enjoy Rock'n Roll music, this year!"