WEST BURLINGTON — Taryn Miller spent Wednesday morning shuffling chickens from pen to judging table as she competed in the Des Moines County 4-H/FFA Poultry Show. 

It was the 18-year-old's ninth and final year as a member of the Hilltop Helpers 4-H club, and she was taking full advantage of every poultry class for which she had a bird to qualify.

During a brief reprieve from the judging table as a fellow 4-H'ers' bantam call ducks were being carefully inspected by judge Bob Gilbert, Miller admitted she had lost count of the number of chickens she had entered.

Much to the displeasure of the chickens, their feathers had been dusted off with a sheep blower ahead of the judging, a technique that helped Miller earn a growing number of blue ribbons throughout the morning.

"We're in good shape, I guess," the soon-to-be Southeastern Community College freshman from Burlington told The Hawk Eye.

For Miller, the 4-H experience hasn't been about the winnings or even the competition. It's been about the community. 

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"If you need anything, there will always be somebody who will help you, especially in my club," she said. 

Evidence of that support was on display throughout Fritz Hall, where 4-H'ers and FFA members scurried about tending to rabbits and barnyard fowls. 

Seated on a chair near the east entrance to the poultry building, Ella Fox, 12, snuggled with a Rhode Island Red bantam named Addy while a friend showed a pair of chickens belonging to Fox.

"Her friend, Bailey, came to help," Cindy Fox, Ella's mother, explained. 

Ella has Down syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes developmental delays, including with speech. She first competed in the fair last year with the help of a tablet equipped with speech assist software. 

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"The Des Moines County Fair does wonderful things for us," Cindy Fox said. 

Drew Fox, a 2021 Des Moines County Fair Princess, said the fair helps her little sister to get out of her comfort zone. 

"I also think it helps her just communicate with others," Drew said. "She's been really good at telling the judge what kind of chicken she has (with the help of the talking device). We're doing really good right now, but I don't know if she'll peter out or not."

Ella had entered eight chickens and a turkey in this year's fair, up significantly from her entries last year. Among last year's entries was a bantam chicken named Betty.

Previously shown by Drew, Betty came out of retirement last year at Ella's insistence and, despite having previously lost a toe to frostbite, won a blue ribbon. This year, the well-loved chicken stayed home. 

Nearby, brothers Isaac and Elijah Shinn of Danville tended to their chickens.

To get their birds ready to compete, 15-year-old Isaac said, they bathed their chickens, dipping them first in a soap solution, then vinegar, then clean water. Vinegar, he explained, cuts the soap.

"And then you wrap them up in a towel and just lay them there and they'll just sit," he said. 

The two credited Wyatt Orr for their chicken know-how. 

"He helps us with all our chickens," Isaac said. 

Orr, of Mediapolis, grew up participating in 4-H and now serves on the Des Moines County Fair Poultry Committee. He's also a procurer of poultry. 

He utilizes connections he has made through swap meets and the fair to seek out less common breeds, including four Araucrna chickens that went for $50 apiece. But when it comes to helping 4-H'ers find a bird, he keeps affordability in mind. 

"I always want to make sure the kids can make money on them," he said, explaining he doesn't mark up prices beyond what he paid for chickens that will be used for the fair.

Last year, a $5 chicken Orr found "in some guy's garage" wound up winning 12-year-old Elijah the status of reserve champion overall. 

Orr estimated he has helped three 4-H'ers to find about 15 chickens for the county fair. He also is happy to offer advice on class entry and other tips of the trade.

"I enjoy helping the younger kids get into it," he said of the fair and 4-H. "I just think it gives kids a good opportunity to meet people, find interests that they like and be around people with similar interests."

It was Taylea Palar's fourth year showing poultry at the fair.

"It's fairly easy and it's very fun to have a bunch of competition," the 13-year-old from Danville said. 

She brought with her a pair of chickens, as well as a wood duck and a mallard, the latter two of which had far fewer competitors than their clucking counterparts. 

Waterfowl entries have slowed over the years, according to Orr and fellow poultry committee member Josh Abel. 

"There used to be a lot of waterfowl out here, but it's gone down every year," Abel said. "There's less exhibitors that have them around."

Neither was certain why waterfowl entries have decreased, but Orr said it likely has to do with the amount of space they require.  

"Different kids, different generations have different things, and waterfowl take a lot more room to do and are a lot messier, so you can have 20 chickens and in that same amount of space only have one pair of geese," he said. 

Chloe Carhoff, 18, of Mediapolis, had the only goose entry, and her pair of brown Chinese geese earned her a plaque.

Michaele Niehaus covers business, development, environment and agriculture for The Hawk Eye. She can be reached at mniehaus@thehawkeye.com.