Photo by Deb Gau 4-H members watched as a judge examined chickens in one of the poultry show events at the Lyon County Fair on Wednesday. The show focused on birds like chickens, ducks and more.

MARSHALL — Even before the Lyon County Fair opened to the public Wednesday afternoon, the 4-H barns were bustling with activity. A steady stream of young people were headed in and out of the show arena, with chickens tucked under their arms.

Chickens, ducks and more were in the spotlight at Wednesday’s 4-H poultry show. 4-H members said there were fun things about raising birds.

“I think I like how simple it is. And there’s a lot of personality in birds that maybe people wouldn’t think about,” said Nolan VanKeulen. VanKeulen said he had chickens, ducks and bantam ducks entered in the fair this year.

Brayden Boerboom couldn’t really narrow down why he liked showing poultry.

“I just enjoy it,” he said. Not everything about raising chickens was fun. But at the same time, Boerboom said, “I like showing them, and taking them to the fair.”

Boerboom said he had shown poultry in 4-H for five years. This year, he had both large Rhode Island red chickens and bantam white leghorns at the fair.

Outside the show arena Wednesday, 4-H members waited their turn to compete, while holding on to their birds. Once inside the ring, chickens were placed in wire pens until a judge could take a closer look at them.

Some of the chickens at the fair seemed to be more relaxed than others. In between events, Finley Boerboom sat in the poultry barn with a small white hen perched on her lap.

“She will just sit here with me and chill,” Boerboom said. “I give her treats.”

Boerboom said chickens can get used to being around people, although they still have their own personalities. She said one of the other bantam chickens she was showing was “chill-ish,” while the rooster was more crazy.

Showing poultry was a little like a family tradition for some 4-H members. Nolan VanKeulen said it was family members that first got him into it.

“My cousins had animals first,” he said. After VanKeulen moved from St. Cloud to southwest Minnesota, he started showing livestock with his cousins. VanKeulen said he’s showed poultry for about 12 years now.

Getting to go to shows with their animals was part of the fun for 4-H members. But the birds themselves could also be fun to work with.

“They do the most random things,” Finley Boerboom said.