DEPARTMENT POULTRY
Judge: Dennis Riemersma
Superintendent: Shannon Rehbein
Assistant Superintendent: Dasie Nichols
Ribbons P. B. R. W.
$1.25 $1.00 $.75 $.50
POULTRY SHOW RULES
A. 4-H entries must be made according to the printed 2026 Custer County Fair Premium Book and entered online by 5:00 p.m. on June 26. Instructions for online entries will be emailed to 4-H families on approximately May 15.
B. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS-Health certificate not required for poultry. No additional testing requirements for Nebraska origin poultry.
C. Poultry check-in will be at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. All poultry exhibits must be in place by 8:00 p.m., Sunday, July 26. Bring your own padlocks for cages.
D. NUMBER OF ENTRIES PER EXHIBITOR-A 4-H member is limited to exhibiting 8 entries plus showmanship.
- SHOW SCHEDULE - The 4-H Poultry Show will begin following the FFA Rabbit Show on Tuesday, July 28, beginning with senior and junior showmanship, followed by regular classes. Exhibitors must bring their own carpet squares for showing their animals. Exhibitors must be present for interview judging. If 4-H'er is not present, animals will not be judged. The FFA rabbit show will be held immediately following the 4-H poultry show.
F. BREEDS-To be eligible for breed exhibition, cockerel, pullet, cock, or hen chicken entries must be fair representatives of one of the breeds listed in the American Standard of Perfection.
G. MINIMUM WEIGHTS-The minimum weights for exhibition birds will be as stated in The American Standard of Perfection and the Bantam Standard. The minimum weights for production birds will be 3 lbs for females and 4 lbs for males of light breeds and 4 lbs for females and 5 lbs for males of heavy breeds.
H. PENS-A pen of broilers shall consist of three male or three female birds 6-9 weeks of age. A pen of egg production shall consist of three sexually mature females. Pens of broilers or egg production females will be judged for production qualities only and need not necessarily conform to breed standards.
I. RULES FOR BANTAM & OTHER POULTRY-The rules for standard size chickens apply equally to bantams, waterfowl, and turkey where applicable.
J. ENTRIES MUST BE 4-H PROJECT BIRDS-All poultry exhibited must be grown in a 4-H member's project.
K. SHOWMANSHIP: Showmanship is based on grooming and training of the bird and the appearance and behavior of the exhibitor. The exhibitor must vocally explain the steps in their routine and the merit of the bird. Showmanship is the skill of the exhibitor in presenting and explaining the bird before the judge. The excellence of the bird is not considered in scoring. The judge may or may not ask questions of the exhibitor at the close of the routine.
L. Exhibitors should not talk to parents while their exhibits are being judged.
M. No individual animal may be shown in both 4-H and FFA.
N. Exhibitors are required to wear Custer County 4-H T-shirts or white shirts with 4-H chevrons, and blue jeans when showing their animals.
O. RELEASE TIME-Thursday, July 30, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
POULTRY SHOWMANSHIP
Information on the basis of judging poultry showmanship is found in Nebraska Cooperative Extension 4-H 191. Basis for judging-showmanship is based on grooming and training of the bird and the appearance and behavior of the exhibitor. The exhibitor must vocally explain the steps in their routine and the merit of the bird. Showmanship is the skill of the exhibitor in presenting and explaining the bird before the judge. The excellence of the bird is not considered in scoring. The judge may or may not ask questions of the exhibitor at the close of the routine.
CLASS G170001 Senior Showmanship (12 and over before January 1)
CLASS G170002 Junior Showmanship (8-11 years of age before January 1)
STANDARD SIZE
CLASS G171001 Cockerel (under 6 months)
CLASS G171002 Pullet (under 6 months)
CLASS G171003 Cock (over 6 months)
CLASS G171004 Hen (over 6 months)
BANTAMS
CLASS G172001 Cockerel (under 6 months)
CLASS G172002 Pullet (under 6 months)
CLASS G172003 Cock (over 6 months)
CLASS G172004 Hen (over 6 months)
DUCK CLASSES
CLASS G173001 Young Drake (spring hatch)
CLASS G173002 Young Duck (spring hatch)
CLASS G173003 Old Drake (over 1 year old)
CLASS G173004 Old Duck (over 1 year old)
GOOSE CLASSES
CLASS G174001 Young Gander (spring hatch)
CLASS G174002 Young Goose (spring hatch)
CLASS G174003 Old Gander (over 1 year old)
CLASS G174004 Old Goose (over 1 year old)
TURKEY CLASSES
CLASS G175001 Young Tom (spring hatch)
CLASS G175002 Young Hen (spring hatch)
CLASS G175003 Old Tom (over 1 year old)
CLASS G175004 Old Hen (over 1 year old)
PRODUCTION CLASSES
CLASS G176001 Pen of Broilers
CLASS G176002 Pen of Egg Production
OTHER FOWL
CLASS G176010 Other Fowl
DEPARTMENT PIGEON
Judge: Dennis Riemersma
Superintendent: Shannon Rehbein
Assistant Superintendent: Dasie Nichols
PIGEON SHOW RULES
4-H entries must be made according to the printed 2026 Custer County Fair Premium Book and entered online by 5:00 p.m. on June 26. Instructions for online entries will be emailed to 4-H families on approximately May 15. Enter pigeons Sunday, July 26 beginning at 5:00 p.m. All entries must be entered by 8:00 p.m. Sunday, July 26. Exhibitors must be enrolled in the 4-H pigeon project. Each exhibitor is limited to a maximum of six (6) birds; no more than 2 in each class. Birds will be shown by variety. No individual animal may be shown in both 4-H and FFA. Exhibitors must furnish their own cages, feeders, and waterers. Exhibitors are required to wear Custer County 4-H T-shirts or white shirts with 4-H chevrons, and blue jeans when showing their animals. Judging of 4-H pigeons will be following the FFA poultry show, Tuesday, July 28. Exhibitors must bring their own carpet squares for showing their animals.
RELEASE TIME-Thursday, July 30, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
SHOWMANSHIP: Showmanship is based on grooming and training of the bird and the appearance and behavior of the exhibitor. The exhibitor must vocally explain the steps in their routine and the merit of the bird. Showmanship is the skill of the exhibitor in presenting and explaining the bird before the judge. The excellence of the bird is not considered in scoring. The judge may or may not ask questions of the exhibitor at the close of the routine.
Exhibitors should not talk to parents while their exhibits are being judged.
Ribbons P. B. R. W.
$1.25 $1.00 $.75 $.50
SHOWMANSHIP
CLASS G177001 Senior Showmanship (12 & over before January 1)
CLASS G177002 Junior Showmanship (8-11 years of age before January 1)
COCKS & HENS
CLASS G178001 Young Cock, 2026 Hatch
CLASS G178002 Young Hen, 2026 Hatch
CLASS G178003 Old Cock
CLASS G178004 Old Hen