Union County 4-H Poultry Judging Team Excels at Nationals
Union County 4-H proudly celebrates the achievements of its Senior Poultry Judging Team from the Union Academy 4-H Club. This team competed at the 2024 National Poultry and Egg Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, the team represented North Carolina with outstanding skill and dedication, earning top honors in one of the nation’s most challenging youth agriculture competitions.
Team Achievements
The Union Academy 4-H team brought home several awards:
- Reserve National Champion Team Overall
- 1st Place National Market Egg Team
- 2nd Place National Egg Production Team
- 3rd Place National Market Poultry Team
In an incredibly close competition, the team finished just half a point behind the first-place winners, showcasing their abilities and preparation.
Individual Honors
Several team members stood out for their individual accomplishments:
- Blake Carter – 2nd Place Overall
- Bella Mitchell – 3rd Place Overall
- Sofia Manriquez – 6th Place Overall
- Aubrey Mekus – 9th Place Overall
- Lindsay Van Art – 17th Place Overall
About the Competition
The contest challenged youth to evaluate and grade in three key areas: Production Hens, Market Poultry, and Market Eggs.
Production Hens: Participants are asked to evaluate three classes of hens for the level of past egg production, and give reasons for two of the classes to justify their placings. In this division, NC took 2nd place as a team and 3rd (Aubrey), 5th (Sofia), and 8th (Blake) place as individuals.
Market Poultry: Participants are asked to grade ready-to-cook chicken carcasses and parts, identify cut-up parts, and evaluate further processed products. The NC team placed 3rd in market poultry and 1st (Blake) for Individuals.
Market Eggs: Participants are asked to grade table eggs for exterior quality, internal quality by candling, and broken-out quality. The NC team was recognized for placing 1st in the market egg team division and NC was awarded 3rd (Blake), 4th (Bella), and 8th (Aubrey) in the individual division.
Coaches and Mentors
The team benefited from the guidance of Union Academy Agriculture Science teacher and 4-H Club Leader Michael Alexander and Union Academy and Union County 4-H alumnus Kaleb Pope. Their mentorship and expertise were pivotal in the team’s success.
Enriching Experiences Beyond Competition
While the competition was the highlight, participants also took part in enriching experiences. They attended a poultry career workshop, toured the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and Churchill Downs, and participated in a state-themed item exchange. The Union County 4-H team brought mini cans of Cheerwine and Mt. Olive Pickle snack packs to share, adding a touch of North Carolina pride to the event.
A Proud Moment for Union County 4-H
The achievements of the Union Academy 4-H team reflect the strength of Union County 4-H in developing youth leaders and skilled agriculturalists. Their success highlights the program’s impact and the dedication of its members, mentors, and families.
Union County 4-H congratulates these outstanding youth and their coaches for their accomplishments and thanks them for representing their community and state with excellence.
