Spring Into 4-H Judging Teams: Wildlife and Poultry

Two young girls holding clipboards, examining white chickens — Students inspect leghorn hens and place them before give oral reasons to a set of judges. Photo by Josie Smith.

Heather Haines, 4-H Agent, UGA Extension Forsyth County

Calling all young nature enthusiasts and future agricultural experts! Forsyth County 4-H is thrilled to announce the return of its popular Wildlife and Poultry Judging programs, offering an exciting opportunity for 4th-12th grade students to dive into hands-on learning this spring.

Why Join a 4-H Judging Team?

Judging teams are more than just competitions! They’re a journey into the world of agricultural and environmental science. Participation in 4-H judging teams is designed to build practical, transferable skills that directly support academic success, workforce readiness, and leadership development.

Judging requires youth to analyze multiple options, apply objective standards, and defend a final decision. This strengthens their ability to evaluate information, recognize quality, and make sound, evidence-based choices under time constraints. Youth also learn how to notice mall but important differences in structure, health, behavior, and performance. This sharpens visual literacy and accuracy, skills that are valuable in science, engineering, healthcare, and many technical careers.

Giving oral reasons is a core part of judging. Youth must clearly explain and defend their placements using correct terminology and logic. Beginning to practice public speaking skills from a young age helps students build confidence in a skill that many adults struggle with.

A middle school girl holding a clipboard leaning over an egg to examine it — A 4-H’er examines eggs at the Poultry Judging Contest in order to grade them using USDA based standards. Photo by Josie Smith.

Poultry Judging: Hatch a New Skillset

Ever wondered what it takes to work with chickens and eggs? Poultry Judging is your chance to dive into the world of poultry! You’ll get to learn how to judge live chickens and market poultry, and even check out eggs to see if they’re ready to sell. The best part? You can show off your skills by explaining your choices to judges, which helps you get better at thinking and talking about your decisions.

Practices start on February 24, at the Forsyth County Extension Office, and will wrap up with an exciting contest in Henry County on April 22. Cost is $20.

School-aged youth holding clipboards and examining animal skulls — During the Wildlife contest, youth identify native species specimens. Photo by Josie Smith.

Wildlife Judging: Explore the Great Outdoors

If wildlife sparks your curiosity, the Wildlife Judging program is perfect for you. You’ll learn to identify native species, understand their habitats, and develop strategies to manage wildlife populations. This immersive experience deepens your appreciation for nature and equips you with valuable knowledge about wildlife conservation.

A school-aged girl leaning against a tree as she writes on a clipboard — Wildlife teaches youth how to look at an area of land and draw a management plan. Here, a student at the state contest is working on drawing the plot of land they were asked to evaluate. Photo by Josie Smith.

Practices kick off on February 24 at the Forsyth County Extension Office. Students will have the opportunity to travel to Wahsega 4-H Center for the Area Contest on April 17 and high school students can earn the opportunity to compete in the state contest on May 4. Cost is $30.

To join a team and see all of the programs that we are currently registering for, scan the QR Code! If you have any questions about either one of these programs, reach out to the 4-H staff at forsythcounty4h@uga.edu