Yellow Rose Classic poultry competition this Saturday at Ellis County Expo Center

The first-ever Yellow Rose Classic exhibition poultry event for Texas exhibitors debuts at the Ellis County Expo Center in Waxahachie this Saturday, Feb. 22.

“It's a trophy and ribbon type of competition where the best of the best poultry and waterfowl are on display,” founder/organizer Karen Richey said. “Exhibitors compete for not only awards and bragging rights but for points and recognition from the American Poultry Association and the American Bantam Association.”

Hundreds of birds and their owners are anticipated to participate, said Richey, who also founded the Texas Independent Flock Owners Association.

“We can say the average exhibitor brings three to 12 birds, but we do have some of our seasoned regulars who bring upwards of 40 to 60 birds each,” Richey said, noting that the inaugural event will not include any birds for sale.

“My goal for the Yellow Rose Classic is to set a new standard not only by awards and decorations but by welcoming in more new exhibitors and spectators to a world of poultry that they haven’t experienced before,” Richey said. “In doing so, my hope is to encourage participation because agriculture as a whole is important to our future, and if it starts with pretty chickens in a cage as inspiration, I’m OK with that.

“If a junior exhibitor is inspired to continue on into animal sciences and agriculture-based employment later in life all because they got to show poultry and it opened doors for them to thrive, then my work here is done,” she said, noting that the Yellow Rose Classic will be an annual event.

The show will have open (adults and juniors eligible) and junior (only) competitions. Judging will include large fowl and bantam breeds, four weight classes of ducks, three classes of geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, and coturnix quail.

Junior exhibitors can also compete in showmanship.

“Showmanship is not judging the bird but rather the knowledge the junior has about the bird that they choose to showcase during showmanship and how they handle that bird,” Richey said. “It’s a one-on-one discussion between the junior competitor and the judge with a wide range of questions, depending on age group, about all sorts of things related to not just the type of bird they personally exhibit but also a general knowledge of care and animal husbandry. Some questions may even include subjects related to different breed classes and categories at an event.

“Next year, we hope to add pigeons and maybe, as time goes on, grow into including a rabbit show as well,” Richey said.  

Richey is friends with Kelly Jo Trice, the founder/organizer for Ellis County Poultry Trades Day, which is held later in the spring and is focused on vendor sales, while the Yellow Rose Classic serves as an exhibition and show.

“The events are in the same location but at different times of the year,” Richey said. “We help each other with our vastly different events. I started out as one of the vendors at her first-ever Ellis County Poultry Trades Day (and we) have become close friends over the years. She is my show staff, and I am hers. It’s been interesting for us to help each other and learn the different sides of her event and mine.”

The Yellow Rose Classic will serve as yet another entry point for people to explore the poultry world – and Richey encourages people of all ages to attend the show and learn more.

“It seems like my event is going to be the icebreaker for quite a few new people jumping into this unknown world of show poultry, and I love it,” she said.

The show will open to the public at 9 a.m.; there is no admission or parking fee. No outside animals are allowed with the exception of service animals trained for a specific task.

Richey welcomes sponsors for the event and encourages them to contact her on how to become involved. In particular, she is seeking donations of pine shavings for the event.

Why a poultry show

Richey’s reasons for establishing the Yellow Rose Classic are several.

“For the spectator, I believe it is beneficial to see the difference in a bird at an exhibition event vs. chicks we raise from a hatchery or feed store,” Richey said. “One is for production, and the other is for quality or preservation of genes. Some birds you will see at the Yellow Rose Classic are threatened or endangered, and some are on the conservancy list.

“I also believe different types of poultry keepers can learn from each other in order to implement different things in our flocks that will benefit our animals,” she said. “My hope is that by seeing the difference of the poultry in the showroom, it encourages people to strive to breed for better traits and supplement the dietary needs of their flocks for overall health. To say it differently, I hope that the experience attending the show encourages the public that attends to make changes in their own flocks not only to improve the quality of their birds but to improve their own lives through their animals.” 

Show attendees will see "chickens, ducks, geese, quail, guineas, and turkeys like they've never seen them before,” Richey said, noting, as an example, “The barred rock at the show is not the same barred rock you’ll see free ranging in a pasture where you buy your farm fresh eggs. These birds are the best of the best and groomed to the level of a service animal.”

The show will feature drawings for “crafty things” and decorative farm-related items as well as incubators and household goods.

“[Attendees will also] have the chance to view the talents of exhibitors who submit eggs to the decorated egg contest or participate themselves with their own decorated eggs,” Richey said. “They’ll have the opportunity to speak with exhibitors and ask questions about what we do and why we do it or how we do things differently for the results they can see in the animals they’re looking at right there in person. A lot of people come to shows just to make connections with exhibitors and to buy animals from them later."

Ugly chicken contest

Richey said she decided to include an “ugly chicken contest just for fun” at the Yellow Rose Classic. As with the regular show, anyone with a valid PT health certificate on their flock or individual bird may enter.

“I thought it would be interesting to see what kinds of birds get entered,” she said. “This is a chance for a mixed breed to be showcased and recognized for its odd coloring or whatever other traits it has.”

She expects entries to include some “quite interesting-looking birds.”

Decorated egg contest

Anyone can enter the decorated egg contest, with Richey saying, “The sky is the limit” for what can be entered. “Some entries are quite elaborate, and some look like they belong in a museum.

“This is actually a pretty popular event at most poultry shows,” she said.

To enter the decorated egg contest, find the signup table between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The entry fee is $3 per entry in either the open (adult) or junior classes.

The backyard class, ugly chicken contest, and decorated egg contest are entry-level ways people can get started in the world of poultry exhibition, Richey said, adding, “My goal for this event is to welcome people in. … A lot of exhibitors’ first experience showing birds is through the backyard class. I hope the ugly chicken contest provides a similar avenue.”

Event sponsors and others in attendance:

• Guzman’s Custom Coops – the Yellow Rose Classic’s top show sponsor. Jonathan Guzman will have a coop on display and will be there in person to take orders.

• Williams Pets and Supplies of Emory

• Tractor Supply of Mabank

• East Mini Dachshunds Texas

• Ark Country Store will have a space with items geared toward what exhibitors might use at a show and other farm-related items.

• Kari Lynn’s Hens will offer products (but no live animals for sale at the event)

• Six O Two Tacos food truck

• event T-shirts and light concessions will be available for sale

• Serama Club will have a tabletop demo area

• Rhode Island Red Club of America will meet

• Ameraucana Breeders Club will meet

• American Coturnix Breeders Association will be exhibiting quail

For more information, visit the Texas Independent Flock Owners Association website and Facebook page.

Written by Jo Ann Livingston/ITKE.