AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — In a popular fable, a goose lays the golden egg. However, in Alabama, the golden eggs all came from a flock of chickens raised by a trio of siblings.

Alaina, Jesse and Elizabeth Knight of Lamar County swept the Alabama 4-H Golden Egg Contest, placing first, second and third, respectively. They learned the news late last summer as they watched a reel on the Alabama 4-H Facebook page that revealed the winners.

“We said it would be amazing if all three won,” said Amanda Knight, the siblings’ mother. “We saw Elizabeth’s name first, and that made us all happy. Then, we saw Jesse’s name and finally Alaina’s, and we all started jumping up and down in the living room and hollering because we were so excited.”

Selecting a Dozen Winners

Alaina Knight won first place in the 2025 Golden Egg Contest.

The Knights raise a flock of 72 chickens. For the contest, each child was responsible for selecting and submitting a dozen eggs, which were then judged for uniform appearance and consistent interior quality. Judges use the same testing measures as applied in commercial poultry production.

“You want to select eggs that look normal, and they all need to be similar,” said Alaina, who is in seventh grade. “You don’t want round eggs or ones that are really long. The shell should be smooth. You don’t want any calcium deposits or ridges on the shell.”

The siblings also knew how to check for interior quality.

“You candle the eggs to make sure there are no meat spots on the inside,” said Jesse, a fourth-grade student.

In 2025, Alabama 4-H received 51 entries for the Golden Egg Contest. Lamar County 4-H Agent Sierra Barder said she was overwhelmed with pride to know the most recent winners were all part of her 4-H program.

“Lamar County is a very small, rural county, and this recognition means so much to all of us,” Barder said. “It was no surprise to me that the Knights accomplished this sweep. I’ve personally enjoyed their eggs, and I know they are delicious and high quality. Plus, when it comes to 4-H, I have yet to meet a more dedicated family. Their father, Josh, helps with woodworking projects, and Amanda is a direct volunteer and helps with Rabbit Club meetings. All the siblings work hard in every 4-H program they take part in.”

Contest Prizes and Program Benefits

As the first-place winner, Alaina received 1,000 pounds of chicken feed from Tucker Milling as well as a ribbon, sash and additional prizes. Jesse and Elizabeth received 500 and 250 pounds of feed, respectively. All three were invited to tour Auburn University’s campus last fall.

“I got to run on the football field!” Jesse said.

Amanda said the feed prizes have been nice to help with the feed bill, and the entire experience has been unforgettable for her and her children.

“They really enjoy this competition, and it’s truly their work to do: gathering, washing and weighing the eggs, plus checking for size, color and shape,” Amanda said. “This has been a great honor for them, and they’ve created memories they will always keep.”

While the family appreciated all the prizes, the bigger benefits of the Golden Egg Contest lie in the lifelong lessons learned.

“It takes responsibility to tend chickens every day — whether it’s cold or hot outside,” said Elizabeth, who is in ninth grade. “Plus, you’re learning agriculture and raising your own food.”

Barder agreed that Alabama 4-H reinforces lessons that help children become beyond ready for all possible situations.

“Whether it’s animal projects or programs like Golden Egg, 4-H’ers learn the meaning of hard work and dedication,” Barder said. “They learn how to keep records, care for the well-being of animals and make important decisions.”

More Information

To learn more about participating in the Golden Egg Contest, people can contact their county 4-H agent or Brigid McCrea, an Extension specialist and Alabama 4-H small animal program leader. They can also visit the contest’s web page at aces.edu.