MOUNT VERNON — On Tuesday, Bernie Douglas was named the best poultry exhibitor at the Knox County Fair Poultry Show.
Surprised by the honor because none of his birds won championship status, Douglas listened intently as poultry judge Gary Overton explained why he chose Douglas.
“Bernie said something that caught my attention during the competition,” Overton said. “He was the lone goose exhibitor today in the waterfowl class. He told me he has been bringing the gander for the last six years, and he just felt like he needed to bring it for people to be able to see a goose. He was in several other classes today, and that just caught my attention as being a promoter of poultry. That’s one of the criteria I was looking for in giving that award.”
During the production class, one of Mike Phillips’ birds laid an egg. That was a good thing, though, as Overton evaluated the pen of three pullets on their egg-laying capacity. Phillips won the category with his light brown leghorns, and Andy Rieman came in second with his Rhode Island reds.
samantha.scoles@mountvernonnews.com
