All chickens are not created equal.
In fact, there are more than 79 breeds and 200 varieties, and nearly 1,000 of the tasty fowl will be on display Jan. 27 at the fourth annual Pearl River Classic Poultry Show at the Columbia Expo Center.
“There are so many breeds on display,” show secretary Julie McDonald said. “We have birds as big as 20 pounds and some that are very small. It’s really funny how many varieties there are.”
The object is to exhibit and judge birds on observable characteristics and breed standards, and it’s a significant draw.
“We’ll have people here from at least nine different states,” McDonald said. “We figure at least 900 birds will be here and we’ll know more this weekend as the registration closes. The show has grown pretty significantly every year.”
Last year’s show drew exhibitors from as far away as Indiana and about 1,000 attendees. “We plan on filling the area hotels up,” McDonald said.
Judges hail from South Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio and the Gulf Coast.
“It’s a free event for spectators,” McDonald said. “People are welcome to walk around and check it out. It’s a family-oriented thing to do. We encourage them to stay for lunch. The Emerald Coast Poultry Show out of Pensacola, Fla., is running the concessions and it benefits their show and club.”
While there are several local exhibitors participating, McDonald hopes the show continues to encourage more from the area to show their birds.
“We’d love to see more local people,” she said. “It’s so convenient being here at the Expo Center. I encourage everyone who is interested to come out and check it out.”
There will be about 25 vendors. It starts at 8:30 a.m. and goes until at least 2 p.m. McDonald, along with her husband, Scott, and Shaun and Elizabeth Williamson coordinate the show. For more information, contact Julie McDonald at (601) 441-4386, Elizabeth Williamson at (601) 218-0171 or visit Pearlriverclassic.com.
Pictured Above: More than 900 birds are expected at the annual Pearl River Classic Poultry Show next weekend. | Photo by Mark Rogers
