Poultry Show

1. The Poultry Show shall consist of a Turkey Show and Broiler Show.
2. Market poultry exhibits must have been owned by the exhibitor from the day of pickup.
3. The chairman or an assistant will attend the cooping. No change of exhibit from one coop to another will be allowed except by permission from the chairman of the department.
4. All entries in the category must conform to the rules and regulations specified under the general rules.
5. Family validation is permitted under certain circumstances. “Family validation” means validating livestock with related family members in the same household, or separate, in the case of split family divorce situations. To be eligible for family validation, the youth participants must be related family members. “Related family members” for the purpose of validation means nuclear family, stepfamily, or siblings via guardianship. Failure to utilize the student’s legal name on any validation form or livestock show entry form is a violation of the Ethics Policy and may result in disqualification. Documentation, including official government-issued documents, may be requested to certify the identity and/or custody status of the youth participant. Animals that are family registered and validated are eligible to compete in the Market Broiler and Market Turkey Show provided all owners/exhibitors are individually listed and eligible.

Cockerels-1st and 2nd Place Banner

Pullets- 1st and 2nd Place Banner

Overall Grand Champion - Banner & Buckle

Overall Reserve Grand - Banner & Buckle

Premium money will be awarded for 1st through 10th place in each division. Buckle will be awarded to the

Heaviest Broiler/Proceeds of sale will go to the scholarship fund

1. Pullets and Cockerels will be shown.

2. An entry consists of three (3) chickens.

3. Pullets and Cockerels will be shown in separate divisions. All three chickens in each pen must be of the same sex. If the sifter determines that there are both pullets and cockerels in the same pen, the pen will be shown as a pen of cockerels.

4. Exhibitors may show one (1) pen of pullets and one (1) pen of cockerels or two (2) pens of the same sex.

5. An exhibitor can show a maximum of two (2) pens. Only one pen per exhibitor will be sold through the auction. Sale slots will be divided equally amongst the divisions (cockerel and pullet) and alternate between the cockerels and pullets based on the overall grand champion. If there aren’t enough birds in the division the committee will make a recommendation to the fair board on the decision to fill the remaining spots.

6. A parent, guardian or exhibitor must be present at one of the two (2) mandatory poultry meetings held on March 24, 2026, or June 2, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m. in the Expo Center. At this time birds and entry fees will be paid for. There will be no refunds on purchased birds. Broilers must be ordered online by 11:59 PM, June 2nd on ShoWorks (burleson.fairwire.com). A single exhibitor can order a box of 50 birds or 75 birds. Family validation – two exhibitors maximum, and share a box of 50 birds or 75 birds.

7. All birds will be wing banded. Exhibitors can only show birds that are assigned by the bird wing bands. Broilers will be distributed on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Expo Center from 12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. No refunds on ordered birds. BCFA is not responsible for lost wing bands. Exhibitors will be notified if there is a time change.

8. All broilers will be sifted at the time of entry by a qualified sifter. For each entry each exhibitor can bring a pen of three (3) birds and two (2) spare birds to the sift. Exhibitors are not allowed to alternate birds after going through the sift. Sifted/culled birds must be removed from the poultry barn before the start of the show and removed from the grounds after the completion of the show. Sifted/culled birds stay at the vehicle during the show.

9. There will be a separate sifting/culling line for broilers with sifting starting at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday September 24, 2026. Exhibitor and broilers must be in line by 7:30 a.m. Broiler Judging will start at the end of the sift.

10. Each bird must weigh a minimum of 5 lbs. There is no maximum weight limit. Birds not weighing 5 lbs will be sifted/culled automatically. Weighing is the discretion of the sifter or chairperson.

11. Each exhibitor must be present for the judging or notify the division chairman of the person designated to handle their pen of broilers during the judging. Only one holder per bird unless an exhibitor needs assistance. If an exhibitor needs assistance, a family member, 4-H or FFA or committee member may assist the exhibitor with holding a bird. Only the exhibitor and holders will be permitted in the show area. Exhibitors selling market poultry at the youth auction will be responsible for processing and delivering broilers to the buyer within two weeks.

12. If a buyer of broilers reports to BCF that buyer was not contacted by the exhibitor on the processing of the project, sale proceeds may be withheld from the exhibitor and donated to the scholarship fund.

13. After the completion of show/judging, the Director will announce if exhibitors are to take broilers home except for the Grand, Reserve and Heaviest Broiler. Grand, Reserve and Heaviest Broiler will be assigned to designated pens and will need to be cared for until Sunday, September 27, 2026. They will be released on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

14. The exhibitor or parent must be present on Sunday September 27, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. to sign the destination form. Exhibitor/Parent will be responsible for cleaning out exhibitor’s designated broiler pen/pens on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

15. Showmanship Buckle will be awarded:

○ Junior Showmanship grades 3-5

○ Intermediate Showmanship grades 6-8

○ Senior Showmanship grades 9-12

• HEAVIEST BROILER
  • Must NOT be from pen of broilers checked in to show.
  • Exhibitors may bring only 1 broiler for opportunity to win.
  • Broilers will be weighed during the broiler check in only.
  • Buckle will be given to Heaviest Broiler winner.
  • Proceeds from the sale of Heaviest Broiler will go to the scholarship fund.

1. An entry consists of one (1) Hen.
2. A maximum of two (2) hens may be entered per exhibitor. Only one hen per exhibitor will be sold through the auction.
3. A parent, guardian or exhibitor must be present at the mandatory turkey meeting held on March 24, 2026, in the Expo Center. At this time birds and entry fees will be paid for. There will be no refunds on purchased birds. Turkeys must be ordered by 11:59 pm, March 24, 2026, on ShoWorks (burleson.fairwire.com). A single exhibitor may order in lots of 12 birds or 25 birds only, or Family validation – two exhibitors maximum and share a box of 25 birds.
4. Turkeys will be wing banded. Exhibitors can only show birds that are assigned by the bird wing bands. Turkeys will be distributed during the week of June 8th, an exact date to be determined with the exact week subject to change, at the Expo Center, time TBA. Exhibitors will be notified if there is a change.
5. All turkeys will be sifted at time of entry by a qualified sifter. Each exhibitor can bring 2 hens and two spares to the sift. Sifted/culled hens must be removed from the poultry barn before the start of the show and removed from the grounds after the completion of the show.
6. There will be a separate sifting/culling line for turkeys with sifting starting at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The exhibitor and Turkeys must be in line by 7:30 a.m. Judging to follow the completion of the broiler show.
7. Market Turkeys must weigh no less than a minimum of 15 lbs. Turkeys not weighing 15 lbs will be sifted/culled automatically. Weighing is the discretion of sifters or chairperson.
8. Turkeys with fowl pox will be eliminated from the show and sale.
9. Each exhibitor must be present for the judging or notify the division chairman of the person designated to handle their turkeys during the judging. Only one holder per bird unless an exhibitor needs assistance. If an exhibitor needs assistance, a family member, 4-H or FFA or committee member may assist the exhibitor with holding a bird. Only the exhibitor and holders will be permitted in the show area. A parent, guardian or family member may assist in showing the second bird.
10. Exhibitors selling market poultry at the youth auction will be responsible for processing and delivering it to the buyer within two weeks.
11. If a buyer of a turkey reports to BCFA that buyer was not contacted by exhibitor on the processing of the project, sale proceeds may be withheld from exhibitor and donated to scholarship fund.
12. Turkey exhibitors shall leave their highest placing (1) turkey in coop (pen) after judging and shall take home all other turkeys. After completion of show/judging the Director will announce that exhibitors shall take home the lowest place turkey. The turkey remaining at the fair shall be released on Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 8:00 -10:00 a.m.
13. The exhibitor or parent must be present on Sunday September 27, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. to sign the destination form.
14. Premium money will be awarded for 1st through 6th place.
15. Showmanship Buckle will be awarded:
○ Junior Showmanship grades 3-5
○ Intermediate Showmanship grades 6-8
○ Senior Showmanship grades 9-12