LONOKE, Ark. — County, district and state fairs are months away, but preparations for poultry contests started April 13 with the distribution of more than 25,000 baby chicks to youth across Arkansas.
The chicken distribution is part of the Poultry Chain program, organized by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The goal is to teach Arkansas 4-H youth about animal husbandry and poultry management. These skills are particularly important in Arkansas, where agriculture is the leading industry and poultry is the largest agriculture commodity. The state currently ranks third in the. . .