Katherine Bosetti certainly has a lot to crow about.
The 15-year-old Oxford High School sophomore was selected to reign as the Oakland County 4-H Fair 2006 Poultry Queen.
Her majesty will spend July 25-30 at Springfield Oaks County Park in Davisburg spreading the word about 4-H and impressing people with her extensive knowledge of poultry.
Bosetti secured her crown and green sash by scoring high on a written test about poultry and doing well in a 30-minute oral interview regarding her involvement in 4-H over the last nine years.
Becoming queen was the culmination of years climbing the royal ladder to the top of the coop. At ages 10 and 11, she was named Poultry Duchess. When she was 12 and 13, she reigned as Poultry Princess.
Bosetti, who lives on Coats Road, has been raising chickens for about 10 years now.
‘My neighbors actually got us involved in it,? she said. ‘At first we only had five (chickens). Now, we have about 30.?
And that’s only the egg-laying chickens. It doesn’t include the 15 which are going to auction at the fair to be sold for meat or the rather large rooster who guards the coop and rules the roost.
Bosetti’s laying chickens are divided into two breeds ? the White Leghorns and Araucanas. All together the coop produces about a dozen white, brown and blue ? yes, blue ? eggs a day.
Araucana chickens, a breed imported into the United States from South America sometime during the late 1920s or early 1930s, produce the blue eggs.
‘You can definitely tell the difference between eggs from here and the store,? Bosetti said. ‘The coloring is different and they’re a little sweeter.?
Caring for the chickens is relatively easy.
‘Make sure they have plenty of food and water,? she said. ‘And you need to have one nest for every four chickens.?
In the winter, it’s more challenging because the chickens require a heat lamp to keep them alive and laying.
Last winter was so cold that all of Bosetti’s ‘show birds,? the ones she would compete with at the 4-H Fair, died. She won ‘Best in Show? with those birds, called ‘Game Bantams,? three years in a row.
‘I was really upset,? she said.
Raising chickens has also taught Bosetti the realities of poultry farming.
The meat chickens, the ones auctioned at the fair as ‘broilers,? must only live for four months, according to 4-H rules.
Knowing their fates, it wasn’t easy the first time she sold them at auction.
‘It was hard, but I just got used to it,? she said.
Three years ago, Bosetti added pigs and ducks to her little animal farm.
She said pigs are a lot more work than chickens or ducks.
‘They don’t sweat so when it’s really hot outside, you have to make sure to spray them down (with water) 24/7 or else they get overheated,? Bosetti said. ‘You also have to make sure they have enough shade because they get sunburned.?
Last year, Bosetti’s pigs won her third place for showmanship in her class.
Bosetti’s also won ‘Best in Show? four times for her crop (or seed) art, which involves using dead seeds to create pictures. She’s also won ‘Best in Show? for cake decorating, cookie decorating and plant science, for which she grew peanuts.
Being a member of 4-H has been both a positive and fun experience for Bosetti.
‘You learn a lot about responsibility taking care of a bunch of animals,? she said.
But 4-H isn’t all about raising animals. ‘Most people think that, but there’s a lot more to it,? she said.
From arts and crafts to giving speeches to scholarship opportunities, 4-H is about producing well-rounded young people, who are eager to learn and know the value of self-discipline.
‘It’s a good experience,? Bosetti said.
Next year, Bosetti is thinking about running for queen of the entire 4-H Fair, which entails a lot more work and knowledge.
If she does, one thing’s for sure ? she’s definitely got the poultry vote locked up.