Atlantic County 4-H members, Brooklyn and Cheyenne Bilge, at right, pictured at 2025 Avian Bowl with Francine Bradley, UC Davis-California 4-H, who developed the Avian Bowl in the 1980s.
New Jersey 4-H sent two youth competitors to the National 4-H Avian Bowl Championships, marking a milestone for the state’s 4-H Poultry Project and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. The competition took place in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 18–21, 2025, where Brooklyn and Cheyenne Bilge of Atlantic County 4-H received an impressive third place overall.
The National 4-H Avian Bowl is a quiz-bowl–style contest held as part of the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference. This competition challenges youth to master poultry science material, from embryology to commercial production systems. For New Jersey, having youth compete at the national level represents a major achievement, especially as it follows the revival of the NJ State 4-H Avian Bowl, which had been inactive for a decade. Over the past two years, efforts to rebuild and strengthen the state-level competition have been led by a team of 4-H volunteers, including Amelia Valente-Minervini, 4-H Senior Program Coordinator and NJ 4-H State Rabbit, Cavy, Small Animal, Herpetology, and Poultry Project Liaison.
Competing against seasoned teams from across the country, Brooklyn and Cheyanne dedicated months of studying to prepare for the event, and they demonstrated exceptional knowledge of poultry health, management, anatomy, nutrition, and industry operations.
Young people interested in joining the 4-H Poultry Project can enroll in their county 4-H program through their county Rutgers Cooperative Extension office. Participation in a 4-H poultry or small animal club provides access to hands-on learning, project resources, and eligibility to compete in county, state, and national 4-H events. The next NJ State 4-H Avian Bowl will take place on May 16, 2026, in Hunterdon County, offering new and returning members the opportunity to test their poultry knowledge.
