4-H launches annual Poultry Project

DAYTON — Twenty-nine fourth- through 12th-grade students embarked on the annual 4-H Poultry Project last week here in Rhea County.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture hosts an annual 4-H Poultry Project where 4-H members have the option of adopting 15 baby chicks for a $45 application fee. The 4-H member then raises these chicks until August when they take them to the annual county fair to be judged and auctioned off. This year, participants are raising both Black Star and Easter Eggers.

In August, the 4-H member will select their three best bullets to be judged at the annual county fair. The judge will select the Grand and Reserve Champion pen of each breed. After judging the birds, the judge auctions off all entries and distributes the proceeds to the 4-H members responsible for raising the birds.

The purpose of the Poultry Project is to teach children multiple lessons, such as the responsibility and cost of raising chickens, entrepreneurship and animal husbandry.