Jonathan Harmon, 15, holds one of his show chickens at the 2018 Butler Farm Show in Connoquenessing Township. This chicken helped him win first place in showmanship. Poultry judging at this year's farm show is set for 9 a.m. Monday in the Poultry Tent, which is also the site of a poultry costume contest at 4 p.m. Aug. 9.

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Poultry-loving Butler locals will have a lot to take in at the Butler Farm Show next week.

Two-month-old “meat birds” raised by 4-H Poultry Club members, a bunch of show chickens and a costume contest are all on the agenda.

Ken Metrick, the Butler Farm Show board secretary, is in charge of the Butler County 4-H Poultry Club.

One activity that the young members of the club have the opportunity to participate in is the meat bird project. Each participant orders a meat bird, which is a chicken bred to be sold for its meat, from the same hatchery in early June and raises it in time for the farm show in August.

“They learn responsibility and how to take care of them,” Metrick said.

He said the birds, which grow and fully develop in just two months, require a lot of intense care.

Jonathan Harmon, 15, is in the 4-H Poultry Club and participating in the meat bird project for the second time — last year was his first year. Harmon said it's going well so far.

“It shows how hard it is to raise something,” he said. “It takes a lot to raise a chicken to eat, or for it to make it to the grocery store.”His bird will be judged for uniformity, Metrick said. Judges also will ask the youths who are participating questions about their birds during the Aug. 5 showmanship breed and market event.After the meat birds are judged, they are sold at the 4-H-FFA Livestock sale Aug. 8 at the farm show.Jonathan said he's been involved in 4-H for around five years, but joined the poultry club three years ago.Metrick, who has been working with the farm show for 30 years, took over leadership of the Poultry Club 12 years ago.“I hated to see the club go away, because it's a good opportunity for them,” he said.Jonathan hasn't named the bird he's been raising for the meat bird project because he plans to sell it. But his 16 other show chickens have names, including Speckles, who he has shown the last four years.“She's won almost every year,” he said.

Judges will be more critical of show birds like Speckles, Metrick said. They will scrutinize features like the birds' beaks, combs, feet, toes, eyes and waddles. They also look at the breeds of the birds.In preparation to show his birds, Jonathan said he puts different types of feed out and cleans their feathers. The day before the show, he usually washes them.“I like chickens because they're cool birds to sit out and watch,” Jonathan said. “I raise them all year-round for these shows.”He also looks forward to competing in the showmanship category, where he will be tested on his knowledge of his birds alongside other teens.At 4 p.m. Aug. 9 at the farm show, there is also a poultry costume contest set in the poultry tent, where young participants have the opportunity to dress up their chickens.“It's a fun thing for the kids to do at the end of the week,” Metrick said.While Jonathan has participated in the costume contest in the past, he has scratched it off his to-do list this year.But always a priority, beyond the chickens, is seeing all of his 4-H friends.“It's a fun week to hang out with them,” he said.Metrick, who said he hasn't missed a farm show in his lifetime, is excited for the week altogether.“It's the highlight of the summer,” he said.

Ken Metrick, Butler Farm Show board secretary, is in charge of the Butler County 4-H Poultry Club. He has chickens at his Harvest View Farm in Butler Township.

Ken Metrick with chickens at his farm Harvest View Farm in Butler Twp on Monday June 15, 2015.