Bruce Hodgson with one of his White Wyandotte hens which will be one of his entries in the Rosewood Show Poultry section. Bruce has volunteered as a Steward in the section for 44 years. Photo: LYLE RADFORD
THE Poultry Show has been expanded to a two day event in response to requests from showgoers.
“People were disappointed when they couldn’t see the Poultry entries on the Friday of the Show last year and so this year, the showing will run for the two days in the Exhibition Pavilion,” said Chief Steward, Rod Lucht, who is also in charge of the Pigeon and Caged Birds sections.
“The three sections take up about half the space in the pavilion with the displays of the Fruit and Veges, the Apiary and the School Work taking up the other half.”
While the Poultry and the Pigeons entries will be on show for two days, the Caged Birds entries will only be in place on the Saturday.
“This is the first year, in many years, that we have had a Pigeon section, so we’re hoping for a good number of entries,” Rod said when we spoke with him earlier this week.
Showgoers will be free to wander around the entries from early today (Friday) as judging gets underway.
And the judge will have plenty to ponder as the Poultry section offers 370 classes right through to Best Pet Hen and Best Pet Rooster, plus 17 champion ribbons and the penultimate Grand Champion Fowl of the Show and Reserve Grand Champion Fowl of the Show.
Rod is an experienced poultry breeder, who moved to Thagoona about 12 years ago. He took on the role of Chief Steward when Peter Reinke retired from the position.
Rod’s breeds of choice are Orpingtons and to a lesser extent, Langshans.
But it is with Langshans that he won his most notable prizes.
“I used to show with another breeder, Denis Dowdle, and one year we decided to enter the Royal Easter Show in Sydney. We won Grand Champion Bird of the Show that year and the following year – it was quite a surprise – we haven’t been back since then but it was memorable.”
While Rod isn’t expecting quite as big a showing of Poultry at this year’s Rosewood Show, he’s expecting some good quality entries.
“It’s a huge area for poultry breeders, now and historically, so I am expecting some good support from local breeders.”
Support will also come from the Rosewood Poultry Club, as Rod’s team of stewards will be made up of Club members.
Judging begins around 8.30 to 8.45 and is expected to be finished around lunchtime. Showgoers can enjoy looking at the entries or listening to the judge’s comments during that time or call in later that day or at any time during the day on Saturday.
