The 4-H Southwest Area Poultry Judging Contest was held Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in Tifton, Georgia. Decatur County 4-H students participating in the competition were Junior team members: Anders Austinson, Abigail Warren, Jacob Christie, Shelby Lane, Branch Austinson, Madison Stanley, Journey Austinson, Brady Hatcher, John Paul Warren, Sidney Hatcher and Michael Hatcher. In a field of 19 teams representing 18 counties and 169 students, the Decatur County junior team captured 7th place.

2012 Decatur County 4-H Poultry Judging Team: L to R:  Abigail Warren, Brady Hatcher, Michael Hatcher, John Paul Warren, Jacob Christie, Branch Austinson, Journey Austinson, Madison Stanley, Sidney Hatcher. Back: Stennes Austinson, Anders Austinson, Joshua Lane, Josiah Austinson, Levi Adkins
 
Senior team members included: Josiah Austinson, Joshua Lane, Stennes Austinson and Levi Adkins. The seniors competed against 15 other teams and were awarded 5th place. Levi Adkins was honored as the 2nd place high individual. Also, due to their high team score, the senior team was chosen to advance to the State competition to be held in Athens, Georgia.

The students practiced diligently to hone their evaluation skills in the areas of past-production laying hens, identification and grading of ready-to-cook poultry, exterior and interior egg quality, and broken-out egg quality. These youth also had to support their placement of past production hens by giving oral reasons to a judge. The UGA Poultry Science Staff organized and administered the competition and also spoke to the students about opportunities in the field of Poultry and Egg Science.

As with all 4-H judging activities, Poultry Judging helps develop critical thinking, problem solving, communication, self-discipline, teamwork and goal setting skills that will benefit students for life.  4-H is the youth development program of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Science. For more information about Decatur County 4-H, call the UGA Extension Office at 229-248-3033 or visit www.georgia4h.org.