2026 Educational Poultry Projects Sponsored by Pilgrim's

4-H Backyard Chicken & From Eggs to Legs Poultry Projects

Backyard Chicken will support families who want to raise, care for, and show layer breed hens. Eggs to Legs will support families who want to hatch, grow, show, and process broiler-breed chickens.

Backyard Chicken Q&A and Demo

April 18 | 8:00 - Noon | Sanford Farmers' Market

This is for adults and youths to learn what is necessary when raising a backyard flock. Town and Country will supply the demonstration brooder set-up. Richard Goforth, the area Extension Poultry Specialist, or Jared Butler, the Lee County Ag Agent, will be there to answer questions. Families can sign up for the Poultry Program.

Backyard Chicken Workshop Series

May 7 | 6:00-7:00 | Register by April 30 in 4HO 

Youth participants will select three layer-bread female pullets to raise and show at the Lee Regional Fair Poultry Show. Workshops will support the care, feeding, and training of the chickens for a successful pullet show in September. Pullets need to be hatched during May 2026. There will also be video projects due on May 29th and July 29th.

"Eggs to Legs" Broiler Project Workshop

• Virtual Training June 1-16 on your own >> link coming
• Supply pick up on June 16 from 8 am to 5 pm
• Anticipated Hatch July 6-8
• July TBD How to Grow a Blue Ribbon Bird Virtual Workshop | 6:00-7:00
• Video homework due July 29

Families & 4-H'ers will learn how to hatch and care for broiler-breed chickens. Participants will take home a 4-H incubator and three broiler-breed eggs. The families will be charged with raising healthy birds and returning in September to exhibit in the broiler show. All birds will be surrendered back to Lee County 4-H for processing. This is a youth project; however, one parent must attend each training. Workshops will support the care, feeding, and training of the chickens for a successful show and processing in September. The processing day is optional, but families who participate in the processing workshop can take home their processed birds. All chickens will be surrendered on September 12th.

Be a Blue Ribbon Winner Workshop

Aug TBD | 6:00-8:00 | Eligible participants will be invited

4-H'ers participating in "Backyard Chickens" and "Eggs to Legs" are invited to learn how to show the birds successfully at the Lee Regional Fair. Families who attend this training will receive a bag of feed.

Egg & Poultry Exhibit Entry at the LRF

Exhibits are delivered in September, according to the Lee Regional Fair exhibit schedule. Register your eggs and static caged birds via FairEntry.com (opens in July) to be judged in the static education category of the Lee Regional Fair. You can use your 4HO username and password to register.

Broiler and Layer Breeds Livestock Show

Sept 18 | Youth Registration Required (opens in July)

Lee County 4-H participants in the Backyard Chicken and/or Eggs to Legs programs are encouraged to participate in the poultry livestock show. Registration for this event begins sometime in August. Premiums will be paid out to winners. Participants will show broiler meat class & pullet showmanship for layer breeds. All Broiler breed birds will be surrendered on September 12th to prepare for processing.

Egg-cellent Egg Regional Competition

Eggs and supplemental material will be due at the Lee County office by September TBD. This contest is for 4-H members with a flock of chickens that are currently laying eggs. If you are not an active 4-H member, you can contact your county agent to get enrolled. Participants may submit up to 2 sets of half a dozen (6) eggs in different categories, which will be judged for uniformity, exterior, and interior quality. Participants must attend two mandatory Zoom trainings and will also complete supplemental project components based on their age, which is part of their final score.

Processing Education Day

Sept 19 | 9:00 AM

Eggs to Legs families are invited to observe and participate in this educational processing day. It will be at N.C. Cooperative Extension, Lee County Center. Families will take home the # of birds they raised.

Project Record Book Submission | September 30-December 15