Feathers once again flew right out of the mailbox Aug. 31 as loud cheers and rounds of applause filled the air during the annual Chicken Flying Contest at the 201st Great Geauga County Fair.
Feathers once again flew right out of the mailbox Aug. 31 as loud cheers and rounds of applause filled the air during the annual Chicken Flying Contest at the 201st Great Geauga County Fair.
Fairgoers and children filled the grandstands at the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton to witness the highly-anticipated showdown between Kenston and West Geauga schools.
“I’m looking forward to winning, hopefully. But I can only do so much. A lot is left up to the chicken,” West Geauga Superintendent Richard Markwardt said.
This year’s contest featured Markwardt and Kenston Superintendent Steve Sayers, who gently placed their chickens in their respective mailboxes.
“Last year was my first time attending the Geauga fair and I was thoroughly impressed. It is outstanding,” Sayers said.
The competition between the two schools began in 2009 in conjunction with the first Geauga Learn Program, a back-to-school tradition that allows local sixth-grade students to attend the fair where they learn about farming, agriculture, farm animals and earn credit for school.
“The Geauga County Fair Know and Grow day is sponsored by the (Geauga County) Farm Bureau and Bob Rogish coordinates the event,” Markwardt said. “It’s a good way for our kids to learn about the fair and the role agriculture plays in Geauga County. It’s also an opportunity to introduce students who are not affiliated with 4-H to the many opportunities that 4-H holds.”
Flights are made from a pole high perch and the flying distance is measured from starting point to landing.
The school superintendents encouraged their birds to fly by guiding them with a plunger in their rear rudder section onto the playing field.
Once the chickens landed, a flurry of kids in the grandstand area went running after them.
Kenston Schools’ entry in the 2023 chicken flying contest was Wingtips, a Mille Fleur d’Uccle who was provided by fourth-grader Dahila Freeman.
Wingtips brought the coveted trophy back to Kenston Schools with a winning flight of 17 feet and 11 inches.
“I’m so happy for Wingtips and for Dahila,” Sayers said. “We’re happy to bring the trophy back to Kenston Schools. I always enjoy competing against Richard (Markwardt) and West Geauga. It’s a great event and an opportunity to be a part of the county.”
West Geauga’s chicken, named Red, a Rhode Island Red who won the contest for the school in 2022, was provided by sixth-grader Dominic Matthews and clucked in at 9 feet and 4 inches.
Sayers said he looks forward to defending the trophy at next year’s county fair.
“It will be here before you know it,” Sayers said.
Other feathered contestants taking the plunge together included names like Cucumber, Snow White and Hen Hen.
The annual contest was open to any adult or child who enters a hen or rooster with prizes awarded for both winners. The winning hen and winning rooster compete for an additional prize.
In a fly-off for grand champion between Tic, a hen provided by Anderson Schneider, and Oliver, a rooster provided by Jackson Weaver, Tic became this year’s champion with a flight of 26 feet and 7 inches.
