4-H/FFA Poultry Rules & Classes

Departments 16 & 26: 4-H and FFA

Poultry Classes

See open show Department 46 for class numbers. Meat Pen Classes have to be pre-entered by exhibitors.

4-H & FFA Poultry Show

  1. All poultry except waterfowl present at exhibitions in Missouri shall have originated from U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid clean or equivalent flocks, or have had a negative pullorum-typhoid test within ninety (90) days of the movement to the exhibition. This information will be documented on a VS Form 9-2 or similar certificate, which will accompany the poultry during the exhibition. All poultry shall be free of any evidence of infectious or contagious disease.
  2. Each 4-H and FFA member is limited to a total of 50 entries in the 4-H and FFA Poultry Show. Exhibitors are allowed only 2 (two entries in the Live Market Show.
  3. The 4-H/FFA Poultry Show will be judged on the Danish System. Gold, silver and bronze ribbons will be awarded as determined by the judging.
    • Premiums will be paid on a point basis in relation to the ribbon awarded:
      • Individual: Gold-6; Silver-4; Bronze-2
      • Pens: Gold-9; Silver-6; Bronze-3

The value of a point will be determined by dividing the total points for poultry into the total money available for the 4-H /FFA Poultry Show. In no case will the point value exceed 50 cents.

4-H and FFA classes only (there is no open classes for these breeds):

A (Cock) B (Cockerel) C (Hen) D (Pullet) E (Old Pen) F (Young Pen)

Large Fowl Chickens

  • Black Copper Maran 500A, 500B, 500C, 500D, 500E, 500F
  • Jubilee Orpington 501A, 501B, 501C, 501D, 501E, 501F

Bantam Chickens

  • Blue Silver Duckwing Old English Game 502A, 502B, 502C, 502D, 502E, 502F
  • Columbian Old English Game 503A, 503B, 503C, 503D, 503E, 503F
  • Silver Blue Old English Game 504A, 504B, 504C, 504D, 504E, 504F
  • Rosettes will be awarded for:
    • Champion Large Fowl Reserve Champion Large Fowl
    • Champion Bantam Reserve Champion Bantam
    • Champion Turkey Reserve Champion Turkey
    • Champion Duck Reserve Champion Duck
    • Champion Goose Reserve Champion Goose
    • Grand Champion Poultry Reserve Champion Poultry
  1. Refer to the Open Poultry Show section of this premium book for a complete listing of show rules and regulations and class numbers. All rules and regulations governing the Open Poultry Show will also govern the 4-H/FFA Show.
  2. 4-H Food Quality Assurance Policy for 2026
    • By June 1, 2026, all 4-H members enrolled in food animal projects including beef, sheep, swine, dairy cattle, meat and dairy goats, rabbits, and poultry must complete the appropriate level of Missouri Show-Me Quality Assurance certification, or equivalent Quality Assurance programming, to be considered a 4-H member in good standing in that project. No further quality assurance documentation is needed.
    • NOTE: 4-H members must be in good standing in their county to enter the State Fair food animal related competitions.
      (Reference rule 1, C)

4-H/FFA Live Market Poultry

450 Market Pen

An entry consists of 4 chickens. Exhibitors are allowed only 2 (two) entries in the Live Market Show. Entry fee is $6.00 for a pen of 4 chickens. Owners are responsible for care of chickens prior to judging. There is no weight range for an entry. Only the 4 chickens submitted as the entry will be weighed. Meat pens will be weighed in by someone designated by the MDA Division of Weights and Measures and the judge will not be present during the weigh-in. Once meat pens are weighed and caged, the meat pens will be sealed. Cages will only be opened by 4-H Superintendent or FFA Superintendent. Any exhibitor found tampering with the seal on the cage of their broiler pen will be disqualified.

Live market judging will start at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 11. All entries must be present at that time and remain until released by the live market poultry judge. Only the Champion Market Pen and the Reserve Champion MarketPen of the 4-H/FFAShow will be cooped at the completion of judging. All of the other Live Market entries will be released and sent home. Market Pens will be judged on the following criteria: 1) uniformity; 2) soundness; 3) market value; and 4) product.

At the conclusion of the FFA judging, the champion and reserve pen from each division will be brought to table top and judged for overall Grand and Reserve Champion there. Exhibitors will be expected to be with their birds and allowed a maximum of 2 “helpers” to assure the birds stay on the table during judging.

New: 4-H/FFA Live Market Turkeys

451 Market Turkey

An entry consists of 1 turkey. Exhibitors are allowed only 2 (two) entries in the Live Market Turkey Show. Entry fee is $6.00 per entry (max of 2). There is no weight range for an entry. Meat turkeys will be weighed in by designated MDA staff at the same time as broilers. Exhibitors must be present to show their bird at the appointed exhibition time. Birds will be released at the conclusion of the market turkey show.

Judging criteria:
1) soundness; 2) market value; and 3) product.