Each fall, members of South Carolina 4-H and FFA round up their livestock and bring them to the State Fairgrounds in Columbia to compete for prizes and recognition.
4-H Day at the Fair consists of several competitions. Lessons learned from these events help prepare participants for life. The 4-H Poultry and Rabbit Showmanship competition is one example.
Delanee Todd, a 4-H member at Dixie High School in Due West, brought her Ayam Cemani hen to compete in this contest. Competing can be challenging.
“You have to be persistent,” said Todd, who placed third. “You can’t give up, ever.”
Her parents, Walter and Denise Todd, said participating in 4-H programs such as the Pullet Chain has been a positive experience for their daughter. Pullet Chain participants receive chicks to raise and sell, with proceeds supporting the following year’s program.
“She’s learned about being responsible,” Walter Todd said. “She’s learned how to care for things and she’s learned how to let go when the time comes.”
“She’s also learned about leadership and working with other people,” Denise Todd said. “Being in 4-H has taught her skills she will use throughout her life.”
The Ayam Cemani is an all-black chicken breed from Indonesia. The Todds started raising the birds after Walter Todd saw one and became intrigued. They now have 13.
“They’re a novelty bird, so we mostly keep them for enjoyment,” Walter Todd said. “We sell a few or give a few to friends. But mostly, we just enjoy them.”
Teamwork
Showing livestock takes hard work and teamwork.
Mickey Hall, a Clemson small poultry flock specialist and professor emeritus, started the poultry competition around 2000.
“I wanted youth to work more with their chickens, learn, have fun and compete,” Hall said. “I wanted them to see that chickens are wonderful animals to work with.”
Hall retired from Clemson’s Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department in 2014. She stayed on to coordinate the 4-H poultry and small-flock programs and help with blood testing for the National Poultry Improvement Plan. She plans to step down again in June 2027.
“I will still try to help with blood testing 4-H birds, as well as judge a few shows in the Upstate and the South Carolina State Fair show, since that’s my baby,” she said.
As she prepares to take on a different role, Hall said she is grateful for the opportunity to work with youth and help them learn to care for animals, have fun and be good sports.
“Always learn each time you compete; you gain more knowledge, experience and confidence,” she said. “I truly love the young people and their families, and they give me hope. We should learn about the good our youth do in South Carolina and across the country.”
Clint Attaway of Lexington has helped youth show poultry at the fair for nearly 40 years. He assists with on-site operations and has been recognized by the fair and Clemson Cooperative Extension for helping organize events and guide youth participants in the fair’s small-stock and poultry exhibition areas.
“I help with the poultry and rabbit shows,” he said. “I help because I believe activities such as this are good for our youth. Young people learn responsibility. They learn how to care for and handle animals. It’s great that young people have opportunities like this.”
State Fair officials established the 4-H Clint Attaway Poultry Showmanship Award. Each year, two senior-level participants receive a $500 Clint Attaway Achievement Award from the South Carolina State Fair to help fund their educational goals. Winners for this year’s award are Mary Anna Childers, a senior from Cherokee County, and Blake Proffitt, a senior from Clarendon County.
Livestock has been shown at the South Carolina State Fair for more than 150 years, and 2026 was no exception. About 470 4-H and FFA members competed in this year’s livestock show.
Winners for the 2026 Livestock Scholarships are listed on the South Carolina State Fair website.
4-H Day at the Fair
4-H Day at the Fair is a chance to celebrate the people and places that make the program special.
Dacey Abruzzino, a senior 4-H member from Union County and president of the state 4-H Teen Council, led this year’s activities.
“4-H Day at the Fair is special because 4-Hers from every county in South Carolina come and have fun together,” Abruzzino said. “The Parade of Counties provides a way for each county to receive the recognition they deserve. It also helps every 4-H’er show their love and appreciation for their county and their 4-H agent.”
For Abruzzino, who grew up attending 4-H Day at the Fair and watching past State Teen Council presidents lead the ceremony, this year was special.
“I can remember just standing in awe of the president as they spoke and wanting so badly to be able to do that same thing one day, too,” she said. “I can only hope that I led in a way that inspired other young 4-Hers to step up and become leaders, just as our past State Teen Council presidents inspired me.
“As a senior 4-Her whose 4-H journey is ending, leading such a special day in the eyes of 4-H meant so much to me.”
Winners for the 2026 4-H contests are listed on the South Carolina State Fair website.
