My name is Isabella Reeser, and I’m a member of the Melvern Jr. Highline 4-H Club. This is my fourth year in 4-H and my fourth year in poultry.

It all started in April of 2017; my mom and dad gave me six chickens for my seventh birthday. My dad built a pen for them, and my sister and I learned how to take care of chickens. So when October 2017 rolled around, and I finally got to be in 4-H, chickens was one project I wanted to be in! My sister and I feed, water, and tend to my chickens (and her ducks) every day.

About May of 2018, my mom and I began watching YouTube videos trying to figure out how to show and what all preparation goes into showing chickens. We learned how to properly bathe them, dry them, show them, put them in and out of cages, and even what I was to wear during the showing.

Fast-forward to now, my sister and I have a flock of about 40 birds made up of chickens, ducks, and guineas. I took my Buff Orpington hen to the Osage County Fair, at Osage City, where she received a purple, reserve grand champion chicken, and reserve grand champion bird in the poultry division. While at the Osage City fair, I participated in showmanship and received reserve grand champion.

On Sept. 10, my family and I traveled to Hutchison and the Kansas State Fair. My Buff Orpington hen received a blue at the Kansas State Fair. While at the state fair, I was also a member of the Frontier District Poultry Judging Team, where we placed third as a team, and I placed 11th overall. I also gave a demonstration on how to bathe poultry and received a purple.

I can’t wait until the next 4-H year to show my birds again!

Celebrating National 4-H Week
Oct. 3-9, 2021