T
riston B. has a longtime affection
for turkeys.
"I've always loved turkeys," the West
Fork seventh grader said. "They are
my favorite animals. They are just fun
to play with. I used to raise turkeys
with one of my neighbors and I used
to run through the turkey houses
and play with them."
For a few days each year,
hundreds of kids and adults bring
their prized livestock to the
Washington County Fairgrounds
and face off hoping to win a title
and take home cash and prizes
for the biggest and best in their
categories.
While raising the meaty
birds can be fun, it can also be
profitable.
"I got into it because you
can win money and get to
experience what livestock
is like," the 12-year-old
explained. "It's fun because
you get to hang around
animals."
Official Kids Mag caught
up with Triston inside
the poultry barn at the
recent fair. Triston was
hanging out and
talking turkey
with
a few seasoned poultry show veterans.
"It's a lot of fun," he said, of showing his
livestock competitively. "You get to play
around the fair and meet people. You meet a
lot of people who want to know about your
animals."
This year, Triston took top honors with his
prize bird.
"I got grand champion," he said with pride.
"He's a Royal Palm. He's 26-weeks old."
When asked about his bird's name, Triston
quickly responded: "It's bad news if you
start naming your animals. It is for me at
least."
Triston, detailed the plans for his nameless
champion.
"It will be in an auction," he noted. "It's a
premium auction, so I get to keep the turkey
and the money. I'll have him until he dies
because he's a breeder and I'm going to
breed him."
When asked where his bird's grand
champion ribbon was, Triston smiled.
"I can't put the ribbon the cage," he
laughed. "He'll eat it before the auction."
Showing turkeys isn't Triston's only sweet
spot. He shows chickens and pigs, too.
He has no intention of quitting his hobby
anytime soon.
"I'll do it until I can't do it no more," he
said, suddenly serious in tone. "It's a wide
open competition and I show against adults,
too. It's just a lot of fun. You get
to hang around with your
friends and get money and
ribbons and prizes. You get
rewards and bragging rights
because you can say you
did something that no one
else has done, like raise a grand
champion."
The American Poultry Association
recognized the Royal Palm in 1971.
It is similar to a European variety
called the Pied, Crollwitz, or Black-
laced White, which has been known
since the 1700s.
Source: livestockconservancy.org
TALKIN'
TURKEY
West Fork kid's
Royal Palm
named Grand
Champion
By Dave Woods • dwoods@officialkidsmag.com
To learn more, search
"Royal Palm" at
livestockconservancy.org.
6 • Off icial Kids Mag • OC T & NOV 2018
