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Birds of a feather flock to Poultry Show

Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey Poultry Judge Laura Kershaw judges a group of running ducks Saturday morning during the Fall Classic Poultry Show on the Brown County Fairgrounds hosted by the Brown County Pigeon and Poultry association. Running ducks are a breed of duck that stands upright and runs instead of waddles.

NEW ULM — A fowl show was on display at the Brown County Fairgrounds Saturday during the 108th annual Fall Classic Poultry Show.

The show is put on by the Brown County Pigeon and Poultry Association (BCPPA). This year’s event held strong competition even if attendance was a little low.

“(Attendance) is a little soft compared to what we have had previous years, but I think this particular year we have really excellent quality,” Don Roscoe a long-time competitor said.

The Beef and Sheep barn on the fairgrounds was filled with long rows of tables covered in caged birds.

The birds were separated into a few different divisions. The large fowl included big, black chickens with bright red combs that were the size of a small dog.

The bantam category, smaller chickens, included a wide variety of breeds including fluffy-looking silkies.

Then there were ducks that varied from the classic mallard to the upright running duck. Geese were the final category, that included some impressive African geese, large brown birds with a large knob on its forehead and a loose pouch of flesh under its beak called a dewlap.

Breeders from six to eight states including Iowa and South Dakota showed up to compare birds, Roscoe said, comparing it to a mini Westminster Kennel Club Show but with birds.

The birds compete based on how well they fill out standards defined by the American Poultry Association. The standards basically describe the ideal bird of each breed, Roscoe, who is also a licensed judge said.

Division winners are announced today (Sunday) as well as the overall champion of the show.

ccummiskey@nujournal.com

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