No fowl play here

Greensburg Daily News - 7/14/2018

July 14--GREENSBURG -- Carl Kroger has spent a decade of summers in the poultry barn at the Decatur County 4-H Fair. As a 10-year member, he had some wisdom to share when it comes to raising poultry and getting involved in the program.

Not a whole lot has changed since he first began raising and showing birds, but the poultry influenza outbreak a few years ago threw a wrench into a usually-smooth running machine.

"We couldn't actually bring birds to the fair," Carl said. "There was an obvious decline in membership. but we've been slowly building back up. Our membership in poultry is about to where it was before the influenza outbreak."

When the biggest part of the annual show was removed, members of the poultry program had to get creative with ways to stay involved.

"That year, we added a lot more non-bird ways to participate in poultry. Posters got a lot more popular. Ambassador is a contest where you had to take a test, breed ID, and showmanship and you'd compile all those results together to get an overall ambassador. We started that competition," Carl said. "Illustrated talk is where you talk about your poster. We also started an egg competition that year. We added a lot more ways to get involved if you don't have poultry."

Carl said all those additional options have continued to be offered and have stayed popular enough the program holds a second day of shows.

"We have our main show where we show our birds today and Saturday we will have the other show," Carl said.

Ten years in the poultry program have helped Carl find the direction he wants to take with his career after 4-H.

"I've learned a lot in the poultry program. I've kind of learned where I wanted to head with my future. I discovered genetics through poultry and I've decided that's where I want to go in college. It's helped me figure out what I want to do with my life," Carl said.

According to Carl, the chickens he raises are low maintenance birds. He has to feed them once a day and wash them here and there, but overall, the birds require much less work than other livestock.

"It's not like raising cows, where you have to go out and walk with it every day, like with goats or pigs," Carl said. "Poultry are pretty low maintenance, but trying to find time with all my other school activities [is the biggest challenge]. But it always seems to work out."

Carl said he has to work with the chickens so they are used to being held and put in cages. He said they can have anxiety attacks from all the stimulation at the fair, so he tries to get them comfortable and relaxed by interacting with them.

When asked if he had any advice to share with new members of the poultry program, Carl said, "Your first few years are going to be rough because you're just kind of getting your feet wet. But after the first few years, when you start figuring out what the judges are looking for and how you can improve your strategy, it will start getting easier."

Contact: Amanda Browning 812-663-3111x7004; amanda.browning@greensburgdailynews.com

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