by Prudence Caskey | Mar 4, 2021
Prudence Caskey, Santa Rosa County 4-H Extension Agent
Prudence Caskey is the 4-H Extension Agent in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Prudence grew up on Voscinar Poultry Farms in central Florida and has been raising her own chickens since the age offive. She remembers ordering baby chicks by mail with her twin sister, “We both worked all summer and put our money together and bought all we could afford, which was only 551 Rhode Island Reds. So, that’s what we started with.” Within a month, Prudence and Sara had raised the chicks and sold 300 of them. “We were able to triple our money and we were hooked.”
Prudence enjoys some time with her pardoned Royal Palm Turkey hen, Reggie.
As soon as Prudence was old enough to join 4-H, she was at the Hernando County Extension office to sign up. At the age of eight, Prudence was able to enter her beloved chickens in the county fair. Her 4-H agent, Bill Hill encouraged her to show chickens. This is a past-time she has enjoyed for the better part of 25 years. “He was an excellent mentor and taught me how to try hard and step out of my comfort zone. He was amazing!” Prudence was a Hernando County 4-H member for ten years.
Fast forward sixteen years. Prudence Caskey served as a volunteer 4-H Club leader and after a short time, she applied for the 4-H Program Assistant position. Two years later, the Santa Rosa County 4-H Agent, Vicki Mullins, retired. Prudence successfully interviewed for the 4-H Agent position. She started her dream job in March of 2014.
Prudence with one her favorite trees on her farm.
Prudence received her master’s Degree in Agriculture Education and Communication from the University of Florida in 2016. Today, as the 4-H agent, she spends much of her time working with 4-H’ers who have an eager passion to learn about everything from Art to Zoology. Embryology and public speaking are huge aspects of her program. She also works closely with Santa Rosa County school teachers to bring 4-H into the classrooms.
Prudence has been married to Kyle for 24 years and they have one son. They live on a pecan orchard in the northern part of Santa Rosa County. For more information on 4-H, please contact your local 4-H office. You can find your local office here.
by Julie Pigott Dillard | Mar 1, 2019
Registration opens today for the 2019 4-H Chick Chain project! This project teaches youth how to raise baby chicks to laying age using science-based best practices. At the end of the project, youth compete in a showmanship and skill-a-thon contest to test their knowledge and also exhibit their birds for judging and awards.
HOW DOES THE 4-H CHICK CHAIN PROJECT WORK?
Purchase or hatch your own chicks during the month of March. The number you choose to purchase or hatch is up to you, but we recommend that you begin with at least three chicks.
Chicks must be from the following breeds:
Chicken breeds have unique needs and personalities. Do some research before you choose your breed.
- Australorp
- Barred Rock
- Brahma
- Jersey Giant
- Leghorn
- Orpington
- Rhode Island Red
- Silky
- Welsummer
- Wyandotte
There is an orientation webinar and a hands-on workshop to get you ready for the show. Your 4-H Agent or project volunteer can also make a home visit to check up on your progress.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
4-H Chick Chain is open to all youth ages 5-18 who are enrolled or enroll as new members in 4-H. Enroll now.
Registration opens March 1 and closes March 31 in 4honline.
Families can share a project, but each youth should be individually registered.
Members who participated in the 2018 4-H Chick Chain project can register as a returning production project.
REGISTRATION FEES:
- 2019 New Project: $20
- 2018 Returning Production Project: $10
To learn all about the project, read the 2019 4-H Chick Chain Youth Project Guide.
If you’re an adult with a love of poultry that you’d like to share with others, consider becoming a 4-H poultry project leader. Our poultry programs include 4-H Embryology in the Classroom, 4-H Chick Chain, and 4-H livestock clubs. Visit http://florida4h.org/volunteers to find out more. To learn more about 4-H in your county, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office.
Still have questions about 4-H Chick Chain? Contact project chair – Julie P. Dillard – juliepd@ufl.edu or call 850.638.6180.
Best of Breed winners from the 2018 4-H Chick Chain.
by Julie Pigott Dillard | Feb 8, 2019
Well’s FRM was one of my favorite places to go with my dad when I was a little girl…especially when baby chicks arrived. With spring right around the corner, local feed stores will be getting shipments of baby chicks soon. Have you thought about raising baby chicks but are unsure how to? Then join us in the 4-H Chick Chain project!
4-H Chick Chain teaches youth how to raise baby chicks to laying age using science-based best practices. At the end of the project, youth compete in a showmanship and skill-a-thon contest to test their knowledge and also exhibit their birds for judging and awards.
HOW DOES THE 4-H CHICK CHAIN PROJECT WORK?
You’ll purchase or hatch your own chicks during the month of March 2019. The number you choose to purchase or hatch is up to you, but we recommend that you begin with at least three chicks.
Chicks must be from the following breeds:
Chicken breeds have unique needs and personalities. Do some research before you choose your breed.
- Australorp
- Barred Rock
- Brahma
- Jersey Giant
- Leghorn
- Orpington
- Rhode Island Red
- Silky
- Welsummer
- Wyandotte
The 4-H Chick Chain is designed to take you step-by-step through the process of raising your birds to healthy laying age.
There is an orientation webinar and a hands-on workshop to get you ready for the show you’ll attend during the summer. Your 4-H Agent or project volunteer can also make a home visit to check up on your progress.
HOW DO I SIGN UP?
4-H Chick Chain is open to all youth ages 5-18 who are enrolled or enroll as new members in 4-H. Enroll now.
Registration opens March 1 and closes March 31 in 4honline.
Families can share a project, but each youth should be individually registered.
Members who participated in the 2018 4-H Chick Chain project can register as a returning production project.
REGISTRATION FEES:
- 2019 New Project: $20
- 2018 Returning Production Project: $10
To learn all about the project, read the 2019 4-H Chick Chain Youth Project Guide.
If you’re an adult with a love of poultry that you’d like to share with others, consider becoming a 4-H poultry project leader. Our programs include 4-H Embryology in the Classroom, 4-H Chick Chain, and 4-H livestock clubs. Visit http://florida4h.org/volunteers to find out more. To learn more about 4-H in your county, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Office.
Still have questions about 4-H Chick Chain? Contact project chair – Julie P. Dillard – juliepd@ufl.edu or call 850.638.6180.
Best of Breed winners from the 2018 4-H Chick Chain.
by Jena Gilmore | Nov 10, 2016
Youth unable to keep chickens at home were able to participate through Cooperative Coops at County Extension Offices. Photo credit: Heather Kent
On Saturday, October 29th, 4-H’ers from across the panhandle suited up in their 4-H Show gear, loaded up their chickens and ventured off to the inaugural Florida 4-H Chick Chain hosted at the Walton County Fairgrounds. This project was piloted last year with Alabama 4-H and is now an annual small animal science project offered here in the panhandle.
The objectives of the project are to help youth learn poultry nutrition and care, to develop communication skills, to develop basic record keeping skills, and to develop responsibility. Over 80 youth participated and have been raising their pullets since May. Over the summer, they participated in webinars and workshops to help prepare them for the show and complete their record books. Some youth participated individually, some youth shared pullets with their siblings (making it a family project). Youth not able to have chickens at their home were able to participate through a Cooperative Coop. Cooperative coops are housed at the Extension Office and youth have the opportunity to sign up for shifts to help “rule the roost” by feeding and watering the chicks, monitoring their health, changing bedding, and cleaning the coop.
Youth were judged on poise, confidence and how they handled their birds. Photo credit: Heather Kent
On Show and Auction day, youth experienced many opportunities to showcase their “egg-celent” skills they learned through the Florida 4-H Chick Chain project. First, youth were required to check-in their birds at registration with the Agriculture Inspector. This was the final step in determining if the youth had followed all the proper bio-security measures to keep their chickens happy, healthy and disease free. Next, youth participated in a skill-a-thon to demonstrate what they have learned about breed identification, poultry anatomy, and how to set up a brooder properly. During the show, youth demonstrated their knowledge and communication skills with confidence. Youth were judged on how prepared they were to answer questions about their project and how well they handled their birds.
Youth kept records of their project and books were judged and displayed during the show.
Do you have a passion for poultry? If so, consider sharing it with 4-H as a volunteer. 4-H needs volunteers to help teach life skills through projects like this by sparking a lifelong interest in learning, Contact your local UF IFAS County Extension Office or visit http://florida4h.org.
Helpful Resources:
| Junior Showmanship |
1st |
Jena Putnam |
| 2nd |
Sheldon Sparks |
| 3rd |
Jake Rinehart |
| 4th |
Cass Dillard |
| 5th |
Ashlynn Peebles |
| Intermediate Showmanship |
1st |
Katie Ballard |
| 2nd |
Adrienne Murray |
| 3rd |
Lily Smith |
| 4th |
Isaac Hosford |
| 5th |
Kailey Pettis |
| Senior Showmanship |
1st |
Mary Ballard |
| 2nd |
Klarissa Williamson |
| 3rd |
Ashlynn McDevitt |
| 4th |
Myra Miles |
| 5th |
Jayla Kindlespire |
| County Best of Show Grand & Reserve |
HOLMES |
G – Joshua Ernst
R – Emily Ernst |
| JACKSON |
G – Nathan Ziglar
R – Beau Miles |
| JEFFERSON |
G – Jake Rinehart
R – Ashlynn Peebles |
| LIBERTY |
G – Isaac Hosford
R – Millie Revell |
| OKALOOSA |
G – Lily Smith
R – Kaelen Chenard |
| SANTA ROSA |
G – Cayden Smith
R – Cat Proud |
| WAKULLA |
G – Adrienne Murray |
| WALTON |
G – Krista Laviolette
R – Leannah McDevitt |
| WASHINGTON |
G – Cole & Cass Dillard
R – Lillian, Sheldon Sparks & Natalie Taylor |
| Breed Best of Show Grand & Reserve |
BRAHMA |
G – Lily Smith
R – Cole & Cass Dillard |
| DOMINIQUE |
G – Jake Rinehart
R – Krista & Julie Laviolette |
| LEGHORN |
G – Beau Miles
R – Mary Ballard |
| POLISH |
G – Lillian & Sheldon Sparks, Natalie Taylor
R – Nathan Ziglar |
| RHODE ISLAND RED |
G – Emily Ernst
R – Jenna Putnam |
| WYANDOTTE |
G – Jayla Kindlespire
R – Kaelen Chenard |
| Overall Grand & Reserve (New) |
G – Lily Smith
R – Beau Miles |
| Overall Grand & Reserve (Returning) |
G – Emily Ernst
R – Myra Miles |
by Niki Crawson | Oct 9, 2015
Noah, a Holmes County 4-H member, is learning responsibility through the 4-H Chick Chain project.
Regardless of the age-old debate, “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” one thing is certain- raising chickens is a big responsibility. One of the newest and most creative ways that some of our Florida 4-Hers are learning the importance of being responsible is through the 4-H Chick Chain pilot program.
This year, six counties in the Florida Panhandle partnered with Alabama 4-H to offer the Chick Chain program. The goal of this project is to help youth learn life and workforce skills while learning how to raise and show chickens. Thirty-six Florida 4-H members chose to take on the responsibility of raising 18, two-day old chicks from May through October. Over the course of the program, youth participated in workshops to learn how to care for their chicks, keep records of their project, and how to prepare their animals for a show. This past Saturday marked the culminating event of the project when youth participated in a show and auction in Ozark, AL. During this event, youth competed in a showmanship competition, record book competition, and poultry quiz. All three events counted towards their overall score.
Members also had a short course in entrepreneurship- they were required to meet with potential buyers and market their hens. Life skills were clearly present in every aspect of the 4-H Chick Chain program which aided youth in the further development of not only responsibility but also confidence, capability, and compassion. When asked about his experiment, Noah, a Holmes County 4-Her shared:
“Chick Chain is a great opportunity to learn about responsibility and respect for other people and animals. You get to raise 18 of your very own chickens for a couple months and then get to take them to a show with your fellow 4Her’s to compete for ribbons and money. You also learn about proper sportsmanship. I love it!”
Based on participant’s feedback, we will be expanding the pilot next year and making some exciting programmatic changes. Holmes County 4-H parent and club leader, Jewellyn Owens, was instrumental in developing the Chick Chain pilot for Florida because she saw the potential this program had to help youth learn valuable life skills while increasing their knowledge about agriculture. Jewellyn shares:
“My family Loves Chick Chain. It is a great program for children wanting to do a 4-H livestock program but their parents don’t feel they are ready yet or can’t afford the cost of the larger livestock. Chick Chain has taught my children respect, sportsmanship, caring for another living creature and responsibility. My children love seeing their chicks grow from 2 day chicks to full grown egg laying chickens. Best part is getting to eat their chicken’s eggs. I also feel it teaches them other aspects of life like record keeping, writing, leadership skills, financial responsibility all things that will help them years down the road.”
4-Hers spent 6 weeks learning how to care for their chicks, biosecurity, showmanship, and recordkeeping.
If you would like to help 4-H grow responsibility in your community (through this program or others) consider becoming a 4-H volunteer. For more information about becoming a volunteer, or to find out about next year’s 4-H Chick Chain program, contact your local UF IFAS County Extension Office. We are also looking for sponsors to help expand this program.
For more information, check out:
