Rio Blanco County 4-H members showcased months of dedication Wednesday, July 29, during the annual Rio Blanco County Fair Poultry Show, competing in showmanship, market and breeding classes with chickens, turkeys, ducks and other poultry projects.
The morning opened with showmanship, where exhibitors demonstrated their knowledge of poultry care, handling and presentation before judging moved to the market and breeding classes.
Hayden Garcia earned grand champion honors in the senior showmanship division, with Liam Olson named reserve grand champion. Charlee Bennett captured the intermediate showmanship championship, while Blake Smith earned reserve honors. Jacie Plummer claimed the junior showmanship title, followed by reserve champion Grace Raley. Cash Smith topped the pee wee division, with Conner Black earning reserve honors.
In the market classes, Tyler Urie’s roaster chicken was selected as overall grand champion market poultry. Urie also earned grand champion chicken honors after winning the roaster chicken class.
Colt Legits exhibited the overall reserve grand champion market poultry entry with his turkey. Legits’ bird was also named grand champion turkey, while Brooke Legits earned reserve champion turkey honors.
Hayden Garcia’s entry was recognized as champion Born and Raised poultry, honoring a bird hatched and raised by the exhibitor.
In other species, Jacie Plummer earned grand champion duck honors, while Lander Dembowski’s guinea was selected as grand champion game bird.
Brooklynn Ehnstrom captured grand champion honors in the breeding poultry division, with Liam Olson earning reserve champion. Ehnstrom also claimed grand champion open poultry honors.
The show bird competition concluded with Luke Olson earning grand champion show bird honors and Jacob Olson receiving reserve champion.
The annual poultry show is one of several livestock competitions held during the Rio Blanco County Fair, giving local 4-H members an opportunity to demonstrate the animal care, responsibility and showmanship skills they developed while raising their poultry projects throughout the year.
Tyler Urie poses with his Overall Grand Champion Market Poultry roaster chicken after earning the show’s top market honor during the 2026 Rio Blanco County Fair Poultry Show on Wednesday morning. KAYSYN KRYSTAL PHOTOGRAPHY