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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us July 21, 2005 Turkeys try out at Jackson County Fair By Denise Baratta Tidings Correspondent The overhead misters did little but annoy and soak the three Phoenix High School students waiting in pens with their panting market turkeys. First-time competitors Jonathan Rowden , left, and Brandon Hawley, both of Phoenix, eye the competition during FFA showmaship class of their turkeys Monday at the Jackson County Fair. Photos by Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings “My bird has a sweating problem,” said 15-year-old Julia Hawley, whose neatly pulled back hair and carefully applied makeup was quickly melting under the falling water. “He’s getting wetter by the minute.” “Ted,” her 6-month-old turkey, stood soaked in the corner with flattened black feathers, looking miserable in the 100-plus-degree weather. In the next pens over, Julia’s brother Brandon poured water on the head of his turkey “Fred,” while friend Jonathon Rowden quietly stroked the neck and white feathers of “Ferdinand.” The wait was long for the judge to come by and examine each bird during the Future Farmers of America competition Monday night at the Jackson County Fair, and the three and their turkeys were quickly tiring in the heat. Each hoped to bring in the Champion or Reserve Champion ribbon, allowing them to auction their birds Wednesday as a reward for months of feeding and care. It would be an extra-special prize, as none of them had ever raised a turkey before. “I saw it at the fair last year, and it looked like a nice easy project, and a way to make money, so I thought I’d try it this year,” said Brandon, who at 17 is a seasoned beef showman in the FFA program. Julia Hawley , 15, of Phoenix, tends to her bird in the holding pen beofer market turkey judging Monday at the Jackson County Fair. “I’ve never done turkeys before either,” added beef showman and rodeo queen Julia, “but it’s all the same. It’s like showing a pig.” “It’s easier than expected,” said Jonathon, also 17, who was drawn into trying his hand at raising a turkey after years of hunting them. “It gives me a better understanding of the bird.” In addition none of them had ever participated in the showmanship competition to follow and admitted they were not quite sure what they were doing. “When I take him out, I’ll stop in front of the judge,” said Brandon with a wide smile. “That’s my strategy.” During showmanship, the competitors walk their turkeys by tapping them with a stick, similar to swine showing where pigs are directed about by a cane. They then must line up with their turkeys and answer questions from the judge, show off their wings and toes, and place the birds’ feet square underneath them. The turkeys must stand quietly and the FFA members be at full attention to the judge. It’s no easy task. As the gates to the pens opened up, the turkeys rambled out onto the sawdust covered arena, and went in every direction. Julia collided with another competitor, Jonathon pushed his turkey from behind, and Brandon made a beeline for the judge. But before the parade of birds could begin, judge Penny Wick called the kids into a row. “Step one,” she called out, and the competitors placed their birds. Brandon, Jonathon and Julia looked around to see what everyone else was doing, and then followed suit. “Step two. Step three,” she continued. Toes were shown, wings spread, turkey rumps displayed, and heads held up. Turkeys, not prone to sitting still, flapped their wings, kicked when their legs where touched, and bolted out of line. Julia kept a firm grip around Ted’s stomach, Jonathon squeezed Ferdinand between his legs, and Brandon fought off the constant pecks of Fred. who found the metal rivets on his pants and his fingers to be worthy of eating. Brandon repeatedly wiped sweat from his face with his necktie. Then came the questions. Each showperson was asked a series of knowledge questions on conformation and animal husbandry — or, what makes good turkey heads and toes and how to feed them properly. Julia and Brandon looked unsure, but Jonathon answered the question about Ferdinand’s head quickly. As the birds began dropping to the floor in exhaustion, judge Wick called the competition short. “I’m impressed with what I’ve seen here today,” she said. “They all look much better than they did last year, and the turkeys are ‘finished’ well.” Champion and Reserve did not go to the novice three, nor did Ted, Fred or Ferdinand have what it took to be “top turkey.” Brandon and Jonathon both blurted out, “It’s intense,” after they put their birds away in cages near the beef barn. “And it’s pretty confusing,” said Julia of the show procedure and the questions. “And totally intense,” Brandon said again. “I had sweat pouring into my eyes, and we are just sitting there holding on to them forever, and they are pecking at you and moving around, and it’s so hot.” Julia complained that Ted was just too hot, and Jonathon added Ferdinand had way too much energy and all were not quite sure how well they had done at the questions or if they had impressed the judge. Nevertheless, the experience was a good one. Julia smiled as she held up her two blue ribbons from Ted, one for the market class and one for showmanship. “Hey, it’s a blue ribbon,” she said, shrugging off her lack of top prize. “It’s better than a white.” DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Online Pharmacy Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations Hammocks Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams