PRESIDENT'S CORNER. Melvina Reid

St. Lawrence County 4-H Poultry Show

The number of birds increased slightly this year. Quality continues to improve. Best Purebred Large, Fowl was a Black Australorp cock, shown by Rachel Hunter. Best Bantam male was a Crele Old English shown by Robert Rastley. Best Bantam female was a Black Old English hen by Chelsea Erdman. Best production bird was a Black Star hen by Rachel Hunter. Best Waterfowl was Anne Hawn's duck. This duck was Best Bird of Show and Anne received the trophy donated by John Hunter. A trophy donated by NNYPF was won by Coty Laing as Best Exhibitor. He showed nice clean birds, true to type and he handled them well. An award of $5.00 was given in memory of Preston Miller, for Best Large Fowl. Rachel Hunter received this. Mr. Miller judged the poultry at Gouverneur for many years. We had several kids participate in the showmanship classes. Since they had very little experience in this class, the judge was very lenient. However, it was surprising that they have become so well informed.

Several members had eggs to be judged. Most were 'large and brown, but there was one dozen Ameraucanas eggs, lots of Bantam eggs, a dozen of duck eggs and a dozen quail eggs. The kids love to see me crack the eggs open. I think they are secretly hoping an egg will have a partly formed chick or something. Not their egg, of course. .

Even though he did not win any ribbons, a cock belonging to Coty Laing drew my attention. Was he big? Sure. Was he heavy? I'll say!! It was all his owner could do to haul him up to the judges table. It took all my strength to turn him to complete the judging. You should have seen the toes and feet on that creature. The toes were as big as fingers! He's some bird.

Kasey Erdman showed two very nice Modem cockerels. Even though they were a little young to be dubbed, it didn't take much imagination to see what they will be. Their pose and station were perfect. Kasey tells me he got them from our "Mr. Modem of the North", Lee Bowhall. Some of the NNYPF members are very generous to the youth of our area. .

Marissa Erdman showed the only pigeon at the show. It was sparkling white and had snappy and alert eyes. I don't know very much about pigeons, but the kids will teach me as I go along.

Rathel, Kasey, Chelsea, Marissa and Robert, as well as exhibitors Sarah Hunter, Ethen McCrea and Brooke Rastley are members of the NNYPF.

I just have to mention how nice the show room looked. So neat. So clean. Kasey not only acquired a grant from Stewarts for material, he built the bottoms of the cages mostly by himself, but with some help from a friend. They were painted white.

At the close of the show, I was given a nice present. A chicken tote bag. I love tote bags. Thanks kids. Melvina Reid

WORDS FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT, Floyd Rood

Show season is here. Our September meeting will probably be a small turn out with the Bath Show being the next day. We will be doing the set up for our show on Friday night September 12th. If you could come give us some help it would be appreciated. We usually get started between 6 and 7 p.m. We also need workers the day of the Show. People to sell raffle tickets. People to collect for the tailgate and clean up and tear down after the show. Please try to collect items for our Raffle Table. Anyone needing further information call Gary Wells at 315-3228993 or email at gwells@localnet.com Or Floyd Rood at 315-379-9498 or email at frood@twcny.rr.com.

FOR SALE:

White Silkies, adorable Rabbits (many colors) and Black Langshans. Contact Derek Raymo at 315-769-1397 or email at derekr@slic.com.

Ringneck Pheasants, Black Mutant Pheasants and Bobwhite Quail. Two pair Golden Pheasants. Call Craig and Tammy Cook at 315-379-0611.

Young pair of Modem Games. Call Lee Bowhall at 315-287-1119

Young pairs of Old English. Call Floyd Rood at 315-379-9498.