By Scott Halasz
XENIA — The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s decision last year to cancel poultry shows at county fairs to keep the avian flu out of Ohio left Taylor Warner disappointed.
The now-10-year-old was looking forward to showing some chickens in her first year in 4-H.
The wait was worth it for the Prime Producers 4-H member, as she was grand champion of Wednesday’s Market Chickens Show. Her trio of market broilers, weighing 25.70 pounds, won Class 9, qualifying her for the final drive.
“I knew they could place but I didn’t know they could win grand champion,” Warner said. “It felt really good because I never really did anything, it’s only my second year.”
The Jamestown resident is actually, uh, faring quite well for being a young 4-H member. She was first in the pig skill-a-thon, as well as showmanship and the market show. She also finished second in the goat showmanship and second in the poultry skill-a-thon.
Cooper Payton was in an unenviable position as the results of Class 3 were being announced. Because poultry entries are down due to last year’s ban, Payton and one other person were the last two remaining after fifth through second places were named. That meant he would either be first or last.
“I was kind of nervous,” he said.
His mood quickly changed as he was announced as the winner.
“Excited,” Payton said.
His birds weighed 20.40 pounds, nearly a pound more than some of the others in that class, making them more attractive to the judge.
“They were bigger,” Payton said. “Halfway through I put them on turkey starter. Adds more protein.”
Jaace Puttin (Ross Champs) was first in Class 1, followed by Dylan Leeds (Ross Champs), Wyatt Spahr (Ross Champs), Hailie Chambliss (Ross Champs), and Cody Myers (FFA-GHS).
Hunter Holland (Country Rebels) was first in Class 2, followed by Noah Robb (Noah’s Ark), Lucas Morgan (Country Rebels), Madison Leslie (Jamestown Jr. Farmers), and Clara Haines (Clover Valley).
Trevor Campbell (Farmers & Friends) was second in Class 3, followed by Braxon Magulac (Ross Champs), Luke Russell (Country Rebels) and Brett Russell (Country Rebels).
Dallas Eavers (Jamestown Jr. Farmers) won Class 4, followed by Caleb Allen (Goal Getters), Nathan Russell (Country Rebels), Dean Bogan (Noah’s Ark), and Gracie Bone (Farmers & Friends).
Tayla Green (Guns and Clovers) was first in Class 5, followed by Katlynn Eavers (Jamestown Jr. Farmers), Aaron Schrand (Buc-A-Roo), Sadie Shepherd (Creative Christian Clovers), and Bryce Day (T-Birds).
Cody Rowe (Ross Champs) was first in Class 6, followed by Victoria Chaney (Jamestown Jr. Farmers), Clint Brown (Jamestown Jr. Farmers), Lexie Groves (T-Birds), and Samantha Bowsher (Ross Champs).
Leighara Noonan (Farmers & Friends) won Class 7, followed by Danielle Norman (Creative Christian Clovers), Brittney Sargent (Clover Patch), and Grace Norman (Creative Christian Clovers).
Otis Boyette (T-Birds) was first in Class 8, followed by T. Fisher Lewis (Clover Patch), Lillian Frizzell (Prime Producers), Ryan Lapchynski (Really Rad Tech Team), and Kody McCoy (T-Birds).
Devyn Jones (Farmers & Friends) was second in Class 9, followed by Brooklyn Warner (Prime Producers), Nicholas Moorman (Creative Christian Clovers), and Devan Lapchynski (Country Rebels).
Quentin Conley (T-Birds) was second in Class 10, followed by Travis Keighley (Creek Clovers), and Amanda Everett (Creative Christian Clovers).
