Congratulations to our 2025 4-H Avian Bowl, 4-H Poultry Skillathon, and 4-H Poultry Judging participants!
Much 'egg'cellent poultry knowledge was demonstrated this summer as 4-H youth from across NC competed in the 2025 4-H Avian Bowl, the 4-H Poultry Skillathon, and the 4-H Poultry Judging Event held at the NC State's Prestage Dept of Poultry Science on July 8 & 9th.
4-H Avian Bowl
4-H Avian Bowl is a double-elimination quiz bowl tournament in which teams compete to answer poultry-science based questions from the 2023 National 4-H Avian Bowl Manual. Nine junior (8-13 years of age) teams (3 more than the previous year!) and two senior (14-18 years) teams, competed in the 2025 North Carolina State 4-H Avian Bowl Contest, held July 8th on NC State campus and hosted by the Prestage Dept of Poultry Science. A youth lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and Kaiden J. of Hoke County lead the 4-H Pledge. Counties represented included Carteret, Catawba, Combined Team (Craven & Rutherford), Craven, Halifax, Johnston, Rutherford, Wake, and Wilson. All participants were awarded a ribbon and the top 3 places received a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place notebook and ribbon. The first, second and third place winners of each age group are recorded in the table below:
| Junior Team | Senior Team | |
| 1st Place | Catawba County Felicia Y. Hayden L. Clayton L. | Craven County Bethany C. Lexi G. Anna H. Elizabeth P. |
| 2nd Place | Wilson County - The Coop Troop Mollie B. Ruby B. Cael B. Elliotte B. | Wake County Jill A. Kate B. |
| 3rd Place | Catawba County Sarah Y. Riley M. Benjamin T. Nolan G. |
4-H Skillathon
NC 4-H Poultry Skillathon is a practical, critical-thinking exercise for youth to demonstrate their applied skills and knowledge of the poultry industry and how it relates to food animal protein production. There are two parts, the written test and the practicum. The 4-H Poultry Skillathon was hosted on July 8th at Prestage Dept of Poultry Science on NC State campus, where twenty junior (up from 8 previous year) and five senior 4-H youths participated. Counties represented included Carteret, Catawba, Combined Team (Craven & Rutherford), Craven, Halifax, Hoke, Iredell, Johnston, Rutherford, Wake, and Wilson. All participants were awarded a ribbon and the top 3 places received a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place water bottle and ribbon. The first, second and third place winners of each age group are recorded in the table below:
| Juniors | Seniors | |
| 1st Place | Catawba County Sarah Y. | Craven County Bethany C. |
| 2nd Place | Catawba County Felicia Y. | Craven County Elizabeth P. |
| 3rd Place | Iredell County Emmaelyn A. | Wilson County Jill A. |
4-H Poultry Judging
4-H Poultry Judging is an event where youth are scored on how well they can grade and evaluate three poultry divisions, including production hens, market poultry, and market eggs. Youth compete as a team and as individuals. The 2025 North Carolina State 4-H Poultry Judging Contest was held on NC State campus at the Prestage Department of Poultry Science on July 9th with four senior teams, twelve junior teams, eight individual participants, and a total of 70 participants competing. This was an increase by 20 youth and 4 teams from the previous year; great work coaches and agents! Felicia Y. of Catawba County lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and Wyatt M. of Henderson County lead the 4-H Pledge. Counties represented included: Bladen, Cabarrus, Catawba, Craven, Edgecombe, Halifax, Henderson, Hoke, Johnston, Rowan, and Union. All participants were awarded a ribbon and the top 3 places received a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place clipboard and ribbon. The first, second and third place winners for team and individual scores are recorded for each age group in the table below:
| Junior Team | Junior Individual | Senior Team | Senior Individual | |
| 1st Place | Union County Colton A. Macyn C. Isabella W. | Union County Colton A. | Union County Lacie A. Levi C. Ella Lee C. Grayson R. | Union County Lacie A. |
| 2nd Place | Craven County Avery H. Austin M. Ryland McKeel Benjamin P. | Catawba County Felicia Y. | Craven County Bethany C. Addison D. Anna H. Lexi G. | Union County Greyson R. |
| 3rd Place | Cabarrus County Catherine C. Bristol H. Providence M. Abigail P. | Catawba County Sarah Y. | Bladen County Trindle B. Andrew C. Jason D. Phyllis-Grace W. | Union County Levi C. |
The top eligible senior 4-H Avian Bowl and 4-H Poultry Judging teams earn an expense-paid trip to compete at the 2025 National 4-H Poultry Judging Competition Nov 19-20 in Louisville, KY. This year Wake County 4-H Avian Bowl Team and Union County 4-H Poultry Judging Team will be representing North Carolina at Nationals.
THANK YOU...
Thank you to all the volunteers, Extension, and Prestage Department of Poultry Science (PDPS) Staff and Faculty who supported this event. Special gratitude for our presenters including Ms. Joanna Eglinton, CALS Recruitment; Dr. Lynn Worley-Davis, Director of PDPS undergraduate programs; Dr. Sam Mwangi, PDPS Poultry Health Faculty; and Michael Alexander, Coach of National 2024 4-H Poultry Judging Reserve Champion Team along with Ashley Brooks and her 2023 National Champion 4-H Poultry Judging Team (Elizabeth Peluson, Connor Howard, and Matthew Peluso; Tess Darnell was not able to join). Appreciation to Mountaire Farms for donating the meat used in this contest. Thank you to all our sponsors that make it possible to send youth to the National Event including: AgSouth Farm Credit, Wilkes Area Poultry Association, North Carolina Poultry Federation, North Carolina Egg Association, and Mountaire Farms.
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