Here chicky . . . Here chicky . . .

The Sevier County 4-H Poultry Show was held recently at the Sevier County Fairgrounds in Sevierville. The event highlighted the year for 4-H’ers participating in the 4-H Chick Chain Project. Ira Crawford, a student at Seymour Intermediate School, exhibited the grand Champion Pen of Pullets. Shelby Pack, from New Center Elementary School, exhibited the Reserve Champion Pen of Pullets. Sara Matthews, from Sevier County High School, received the award for the best overall set of poultry records. Other 4-H members exhibiting pullets included: Travis Carter, Northview Middle; Tyler Norton, Pittman Center; Rebekah Sutton, Seymour Inter-mediate School; Clarissa Williams, Elias Crawford and Asa Crawford, Seymour Middle; Jonathan Smelcer, Seymour High School; Ivan Thacker and Cody Matthews, Sevierville Middle School and Steven Sutton, Sevier County High School. Each of these exhibitors received blue awards and $10.00 premium money for their pullet entries. Others participating in the Chick Chain Project this year included: Iby Welborn, Pi Beta Phi; Ryan King, Seymour Middle and Jacob Haynes, Seymour High School. The Chick Chain is one of several livestock opportunities available to 4-H members, in Sevier County. The Chick Chain gives young people the opportunity to purchase and raise 25 baby chicks for laying hens. The project begins in March and culminates in September with the county show, where 4-H members enter a pen of three hens. Pens are judged on growth and egg laying quality. Order for the Chick Chain participants for 2004 will begin in January. If you need more information, about the 4-H Chick Chain Project, please contact Glenn K Turner, at the Agricultural Extension Service, at 453-3695. County winners have also been named in the 2003 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Contest for Sevier County. Tyler Bruhin, a student at Sevierville Middle School had the county winning food plot, while Amber Thomas, a student at Sevier County High School had the second place plot. Tyler will receive a plaque and a $50.00 Savings bond. The F.A.C.E. (Food and Cover Establishment) contest gives 4-H young people the opportunity to plant food plots that provide for the needs of wildlife across Tennessee.  Plots are judged on their quality and effectiveness to provide food and cover for wildlife. The contest is sponsored by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency to promote the production of food and cover for wildlife. The agency provides a five-pound bag of annual seed consisting of soybeans, cowpeas, German or brown top millet, grain sorghum and buckwheat. The seed mixture is designed to be planted in areas where a perennial is not desirable or practical. Plots planted this past spring will provide food for wildlife this fall and into the winter months.