Poultry Fest, PVCD, and WVU Extension present backyard poultry demonstration to Moorefield students.

By Vanta Coda III, RealWV

On July 17, the Potomac Valley Conservation District and WVU Extension Services prepared for a demonstration of backyard poultry processing. The event was created by Potomac Valley Conservation District Supervisor, Lois Carr, and was organized with the help of Melissa Whetzel, an FFA and agriculture teacher at Petersburg High School. The purpose of the day event was to provide knowledge to FFA, 4-H, and all children on how to properly care for their poultry. 

The schedule of the event started in the morning and went to the afternoon, teaching students on egg grading, carcass evaluation,  selection of the best laying hen and an evaluation of  prepared products. 

“This event was specifically created to highlight the raising of poultry, egg candling, and to gain knowledge for judging in the West Virginia Poultry Festival. It also aimed to teach the proper processing of chickens from butchering to the finished product,” said Carr. “Many children and adults have never had the opportunity to see the proper caring for and processing of chickens, which is why we wanted to have this demonstration.”

The event was part of the Potomac Valley Conservation District’s “Rediscovering Agriculture in Your Own Backyard” program, which is funded by the Urban, Small-Scale, Climate Agriculture, and Social Equity Initiative Community Outreach Grant from the West Virginia Association of Conservation Districts. With this grant, the Potomac Valley Conservation District plans to organize more community outreach events like this one to better educate the public about improved conservation and agricultural practices

 “We need to get back to understanding how this all works,” said Whetzel. “Years ago, our families were self-sustaining and I am not saying we all need to become homesteaders, but it is wise to have an understanding and working knowledge of the proper way to harvest these items.”

With a strong turnout from students and local citizens, this demonstration’s engagement will hopefully encourage more public participation in Potomac Valley Conservation District events focused on West Virginia natural resources that can be found in our backyards.