Shawn Jackson, Lafayette County 4-H Agent
Contributor
Lafayette County 4-H recently hosted its first ever Goat and Chick-Chain Livestock Show. The event was held on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Lafayette County Ag complex in Mayo. The goat competition consisted of five goats, with four competitors competing in a meat goat class.
Cody Norton, former University of Florida livestock judging team member, judged the class of goats and carefully explained to the exhibitors and guest the qualities he was looking for in a top prize-winning goat. Tinley Jackson showed the Grand Champion Goat and was awarded the prize for Showmanship. Tinley showed a female boar goat, which was bred and born on the farm of Neil and Julie McCray. Other goat exhibitors included Gracie Swindell, Jace Fike and Kaitlyn McCray.
Seven 4-H Youth showed chickens in the livestock show. The chickens being shown were the adult hens that were raised in the 2021 4-H Chick-Chain Project, which starts in the spring of each year by purchasing baby chicks. This portion of the show was judged by Hamilton County 4-H Agent Greg Hicks. Hicks also gave youth tips on how to remove chickens from their cages and hold them with limited stress. He interviewed each participant about their chick-chain experience while examining the chickens for desirable characteristics in laying hens.
Ava Keen’s Rhode Island Red named Penny was awarded the Grand Champion Chicken. Lanae Colson was awarded the Showmanship prize for her ability to handle her chicken with ease, as well as her depth of knowledge regarding the raising of her hen. Exhibitors in the chick-chain show included Holland Jackson, Jaden Lumpkin, Miles Jackson, Ava Keen, Lanae Colson, Emilee Elizabeth Jackson and Derby Sherill. These 4-Hers will be showing their hens in the tri-county Chic Chain contest in Madison on Tuesday, Nov. 9.
Livestock Grand Champion Goat and Showmanship winner, Tinley Jackson.
Ava Keen with her chicken, Penny, who was awarded Grand Champion Chicken.