Poultry Judging in a competition where youth learn standards used in poultry and egg production and marketing and apply those standards in realistic decision making situations. Participating in 4-H judging teams offers many benefits. Competitors learn teamwork, self-confidence, effective communication skills and decision making.

2026 Area Contest Dates and Locations

The State Contest will be held on May 1, 2026 . Only qualifying Senior teams will have the opportunity to compete.

Eligibility

• Cloverleaf/Juniors: 4th – 8th grade.
• Seniors: 9th – 12th grade.
• Counties cannot mix grade divisions to comprise a team. All members on the Junior team must meet the Junior grade requirements, and all members on the Senior team must meet the Senior grade requirements.
• Counties may bring up to 20 senior team members and 15 non-senior members (Cloverleaf’s and Junior’s) for your county’s assigned contest.
  • Cloverleaf/Juniors: The first 15 Cloverleaf and Junior members from a county are guaranteed a place in the contest. County participants beyond the first 15 registered will be placed on a waiting list. After the designated time, any remaining places in the contest, up to the capacity of the
    event (120 per contest), will be filled by participants from the waiting list.
  • Participants will be pulled from the waiting list in the order of the date
    and time they were entered into the registration system, with no county
    having more than 20 non-senior total participations. Up until the date
    of the contest, participants may claim any remaining spaces for the
    event on a first-come, first-served basis up to the 120 limits.
• A team must consist of a minimum of three (3) or four (4) participants. Individuals may also participate. A county’s team score will be the sum of the top three scores from that county.
• Counties wishing to have three separate teams must designate them before the contest. A county cannot have more than three teams per division.
• Eligibility is determined by the grade level during the 2024-2025 school year.

Competition Guidelines

• Counties may attend any contest location that they prefer.
• Classes at Area Contests:
  • There will be two classes comprised of past production hens.
  • One set of oral reasons will be given at the area contests.
  • There will be one class each of Ready-to-Cook Poultry, Ready-to-Cook Carcasses, Candling class, Exterior Quality class, Broken Out class,  Parts ID class, and Breaded class.
  • Written Test: Questions will come from the manual and will be multiple choice.
  • All classes will be set up in accordance with the Rules and Standards printed in the National Poultry Judging Manual (linked under the Resources tab).

Awards

• Each participant will receive an award pin.
• Certificates will be awarded to the High Individual and the top three high scoring Junior and Senior teams at each area contest.
• The top two highest scoring Senior teams from each Area Contest will be invited to participate in the State 4-H Poultry Judging Contest. In addition, the next four high teams from the state “at-large” will be invited to participate in the State 4-H Poultry Judging Contest. At large, teams will be announced no later than 12 noon on April 28. No travel funds will be available to support qualifying counties to the State Poultry Judging Contest.
• The Senior High Individual from each Area Contest will be invited to participate in the State Poultry Judging Contest if they are not a member of one of the top two highest-scoring Senior teams. There will be no travel funds available to support these individuals’ travels.
• The First Place Senior Team will represent Georgia at the National Poultry Judging Contest in Louisville, KY. Members of the State Winning (First Place) Team are ineligible to compete as team members in future years. This applies whether or not they compete in the National Poultry Judging Contest. Team members may compete as individuals in Area and State Poultry Judging Contests and may be recognized as State Winners as High Individuals. State Winning High Individuals who are not members of the State Winning (First Place) Team are permitted to compete in future years as either individuals or as team members.

Contest Coordinator:

Kate Whiting, Georgia 4-H Extension Specialist – Animal Science Programs whitingk@uga.edu

Become a Coach

Please contact your local Extension Office for more information.