MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota 4-H and Gold'n Plump have teamed up to sponsor the first-ever Poultry Prince and Princess Contest at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair to recognize the knowledge, leadership and skills of Minnesota's youth in the poultry industry.
Dozens of male and female teenagers statewide will vie for a chance to reign over the Minnesota chicken kingdom. The winners will receive $1,000 scholarships and serve as the state's first poultry ambassadors for one year.
The contest is open to Minnesota State Fair 4-H participants who have completed ninth grade or higher. The competition began Thursday and the new prince or princess will be crowned Tuesday. The contest includes an interview testing the contestants poultry knowledge, presentation and handling of their chickens and a chicken barbecue contest. The top three female and top three male contestants will advance to a third round, where they will be asked to answer four category-specific questions with knowledge, confidence and personality. One question will even require clucking, walking or dancing like a chicken.
"The youth in Minnesota's $1 billion poultry industry often go unrecognized," said Rory Bidinger, brand communications manager for Gold'n Plump. "We're proud to be partnering with Minnesota 4-H to support these future leaders and the 26,000 jobs that depend on the Minnesota poultry industry."
Along with scholarships, the Poultry Prince and Princess will have the opportunity to expand their speaking, interview and presentation skills through a media coaching session and three to five industry and publicity appearances during their year-long terms.
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"Minnesota 4-H attracts the participation of more than 100,000 youth, but only about 300 of them qualify for the State Fair poultry shows each year," said Brad Rugg, director of 4-H Fairs and Animal Science Programs, University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development. "This is a fun and exciting way for two of our brightest youth to draw statewide attention for the poultry category."
At the fair, the Poultry Prince and Princess will celebrate their victories by participating in the Minnesota State Fair parade or enjoying a trolley ride. They'll also have their portraits painted, while in royal garb, by the official 2010 State Fair artist, Deborah Voyda Rogers.
