AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Lamar County 4-H members Elizabeth and Alaina Knight won high honors at the 2024 Alabama 4-H Fur and Feathers show in Montgomery, Alabama.

Elizabeth won Alabama 4-H Junior Supreme Showman in the rabbit division. She also earned first place in the rabbit and poultry showmanship divisions, and her artwork won first place in the rabbit division.

“I was really happy when I won showmanship for rabbits and poultry but extremely excited when it was announced that I won the Junior Supreme Showman award for rabbits,” Elizabeth said.

Alaina earned the award for Alabama 4-H Junior Supreme Showman in the poultry division. She won second place in the rabbit and poultry showmanship divisions, while her color photography of poultry won third place.

“It was really fun to win because I know I tried by best and worked hard,” Alaina said.

Embodying Hard Work

This was not the Knight’s first success at the Fur and Feathers Show. Elizabeth started showing rabbits with Lamar County 4-H in 2020, and Alaina followed soon after in 2022. They have had success in the rabbit and poultry showmanship classes ever since but not because of luck. The pair have put in hours of hard work and training, going the extra mile to prepare for a show. They attend every rabbit club meeting and practice showmanship techniques daily with their rabbits, Jasmine and Thumper.

“They are the living embodiment of how hard work and diligent practicing of your goals can really be life changing,” said Lamar County Youth Development Coordinator Sierra Barder.

After mastering rabbit showmanship skills, they added chickens to the mix. Before competing in their first poultry showmanship class in 2023, Elizabeth and Alaina learned showmanship techniques from Brigid McCrea, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s small flock specialist. In their first poultry showmanship class, Elizabeth placed first in poultry showmanship and Alaina placed second.

4-H Impact

The talents and skills the Knights are learning at home on the farm translate into their involvement with 4-H. In addition to the poultry and rabbit clubs, Elizabeth and Alaina are involved in the homeschool club, sewing club and Pig Squeal. From animal projects and summer camp to leadership and volunteerism, the girls are involved in nearly every aspect of 4-H.

Elizabeth and Alaina were introduced to agriculture at an early age by their grandfather. Helping him care for his horses has taught them how to tend to livestock and the process of baling hay. The sisters’ first pet rabbit was purchased for $10 in a grocery store parking lot. Since then, their family farm has grown into a host of miniature horses, pigs, chickens and rabbits. Their honeybees provide them with local honey, while their garden provides fresh produce.

“I am one proud mom,” said their mother, Amanda Knight. “The skills they are taught through each event, animal project and community service event will benefit them during an interview, on the job and in their future homes.”

Alabama 4-H programming helps youth see themselves as resilient, life-long learners who shape their own future by setting goals and practicing determination. The Knights are proof of this mission.

“Their kindness and professionalism toward other 4-H’ers is inspiring, and I have no doubt these young ladies will succeed in anything they put their minds to,” Barder said.

More Information

Learn more about Alabama 4-H by visiting www.Alabama4H.com or following them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alabama4h/.