Lynchburg-Clay FFA chapter raises meat chickens; hosts chicken show
Lead Summary
By
Rylee Oglesby-
The Lynchburg-Clay FFA chapter recently raised 60 meat chickens in the FFA Learning Barn, which is located on the school campus.
Members were responsible for the daily care of feeding, watering and bedding the chickens. They divided the chickens into three different groups, with each group receiving a different type of feed throughout the seven-week period. The meat chickens weighed between 6.5 and 12 pounds.
During the last week of the feed trial, members chose their own chicken for the inaugural Lynchburg-Clay FFA Chicken Show. Members utilized their skills and knowledge to select, practice and train their bird for the show.
On Nov. 5, Mr. Larry Lokai, Poultry Judge, evaluated the members’ chickens. During his evaluation, Mr. Lokai explained what he was looking for in a typical meat chicken and how improvements could be made for the future. He declared Jayden Hixson as the Grand Champion Meat Chicken, with Kaylee Butler-Fife earning Reserve Champion.
Finally, on Nov. 7, the FFA members harvested the meat chickens that they raised in the FFA Learning Barn. Members assisted with loading and transporting the chickens, helped with receiving the whole chickens from the processor and cleaned and cut the carcasses. Members also bagged and sealed the meat and weighed the packages.
The FFA would like to give a special thank-you to Farm, Family & Home of Hillsboro for their feed donations and a thank-you to the following individuals for their assistance with the chicken project: Mr. Larry Lokai, Ed & Linda Rhonemus, Mr. Mike Winkelman, Mrs. Amanda Widmeyer, Miss Tonya Fender, Mrs. Jo Heather Arnett, Mr. Leonard Watson and Mr. Shane Simmons for the use of his trailer.
The FFA does have a few whole chickens for sale. If you’re interested, please contact Ms. Rhonemus at stacie.rhonemus@lclsd.org or at school at (937) 364-2250.
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Members were responsible for the daily care of feeding, watering and bedding the chickens. They divided the chickens into three different groups, with each group receiving a different type of feed throughout the seven-week period. The meat chickens weighed between 6.5 and 12 pounds.
During the last week of the feed trial, members chose their own chicken for the inaugural Lynchburg-Clay FFA Chicken Show. Members utilized their skills and knowledge to select, practice and train their bird for the show.
On Nov. 5, Mr. Larry Lokai, Poultry Judge, evaluated the members’ chickens. During his evaluation, Mr. Lokai explained what he was looking for in a typical meat chicken and how improvements could be made for the future. He declared Jayden Hixson as the Grand Champion Meat Chicken, with Kaylee Butler-Fife earning Reserve Champion.
Finally, on Nov. 7, the FFA members harvested the meat chickens that they raised in the FFA Learning Barn. Members assisted with loading and transporting the chickens, helped with receiving the whole chickens from the processor and cleaned and cut the carcasses. Members also bagged and sealed the meat and weighed the packages.
The FFA would like to give a special thank-you to Farm, Family & Home of Hillsboro for their feed donations and a thank-you to the following individuals for their assistance with the chicken project: Mr. Larry Lokai, Ed & Linda Rhonemus, Mr. Mike Winkelman, Mrs. Amanda Widmeyer, Miss Tonya Fender, Mrs. Jo Heather Arnett, Mr. Leonard Watson and Mr. Shane Simmons for the use of his trailer.
The FFA does have a few whole chickens for sale. If you’re interested, please contact Ms. Rhonemus at stacie.rhonemus@lclsd.org or at school at (937) 364-2250.
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