Moulton, Alabama – The Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival is pleased to sponsor the Lawrence County 4-H Chicken Chain pilot program in conjunction with the seventh annual event. Coordinated by the Lawrence County 4-H Club, the Chicken Chain project is designed to teach children recommended management practices for raising and caring for chickens. In addition, students learn poultry management skills and record keeping skills throughout a five month period.
During the Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival, set for April 9th-10th at the Lions Club Fairgrounds, 100 baby chicks will be distributed to ten students, with each student receiving ten chicks. Students will carry the chicks home to care and to raise for approximately 20 weeks. Students will return the best three of the ten chickens to the Lawrence County Fair held in September, 2011 where the chickens will be auctioned off with the student receiving the funds. Students will keep their remaining seven chicks to establish their own chicken flock.
“This should be an exciting and fun hands-on educational activity for the youth involved,” said County Extension Coordinator Linda Robinson. “The youth will learn about poultry management skills, business management practices, and financial record keeping skills and become aware of the economic impact that the poultry industry has on Lawrence County and the state of Alabama.”
Ten students will be selected to participate in the pilot program. Membership in the Lawrence County 4-H Club is not required; however, students must be between 9 and 18 years old to participate. Interested students may contact the Lawrence County Extension Office at 256.974.2464 or 256.974.2465 for an application. Cost to participate is $20 per student. Deadline for registration is March 22, 2011. Once selected, students and parents must attend a mandatory training session on March 26th at 9 a.m. at the Agriculture Center located at 13075 AL Hwy 157, Suite 6 in Moulton. Successful chicken chain projects have already been implemented in Marshall County and DeKalb County, Alabama.
For more information, contact Robinson or Juanita Baggett at 256.974.2465 or 256.974.2464.
