As the first blog post on the Poultry Pages, I wanted to discuss why someone should even care about exhibition poultry, as supporting exhibition poultry is the core purpose of the Poultry Pages.

History

The American Poultry Association, the main organization for exhibition poultry, is the oldest and longest running livestock organization in North America, turning 150 years old this year. Exhibiting and breeding poultry has been around for a very long time and is a foundational component of the agricultural sector across both Canada and the U.S.A. Personally, I think it is very unique and intriguing to be part of an organization and hobby which has such a long history.

Healthy and Productive Birds

You might think exhibition poultry is purely focused on the look of the bird for the detriment of its health and productive qualities, but the true purpose of exhibition poultry is quite the opposite. It is true that all breeds have a standard outlined in the Standard of Perfection by the American Poultry Association, but the standard descriptions were built on breeding and developing the absolute best specimen of that breed, including its health and market qualities.

If proper breeding practices are followed, breeders aiming for the standard description should produce a bird that is both excellent for exhibition and its productive qualities. Granted, not all poultry breeds were meant for eggs and/or meat, some breeds are purely exhibition breeds! Although some breeders may stray from protecting these original qualities of poultry breeds for fast success in the show hall, dedicated and long-term exhibition poultry breeders value the health and productive qualities of their birds just as much as meeting the standard

Community

Another reason to care about exhibition poultry is that it is a community of like-minded and poultry loving people! Being able to connect with others who share your passion and excitement about poultry is one of the best benefits and strengths of exhibition poultry. If you are new to poultry and are looking to connect with others in your local area, try searching online for an exhibition poultry group near you or checking out the American Poultry Association website.

These are just a few reasons from my perspective on why you should care about exhibition poultry, and everyone will have their own opinions. Hope to see you at a poultry show one day!

~ Matthew ~