(La Porte County, IN) - Promises of popcorn and a ride on the Ferris wheel might have given a chicken enough incentive to become the grand champion flyer at this year’s La Porte County Fair.

 

Margaret Tomich, 9, of Kingsbury entered her Rhode Island Red hen named “Tia” in the bantam weight division in Monday’s contest. 

 

Her chicken, after being pushed from a 10-foot-high platform, flew more than 27 feet to win the division crown.

 

Each winner in the four weight categories qualified for the chance at becoming grand champion during a run-off.

 

Tomich said her bird looked tired going into the grand champion round, but responded in winning fashion with another flight greater than 27 feet after promising her chicken popcorn and a ride on the Ferris wheel.

 

“I pushed her one more time to fly, and she did it,” she said.

 

Tomich said she also had her chicken practice flying every day for about a month prior to the competition. Both of her winning flights were the longest Tia had ever flown.

 

“She isn’t really a good flyer but since we practiced, she was getting better."

 

Meagan Surma, 11, of Rolling Prairie entered a buff Brahma chicken that won the middle weight division crown with a flight greater than 30 feet. Surma was surprised at how well her bird, “Reagan,” did in the division portion of the competition.

 

“At home, she doesn’t fly that much so I thought she might not fly here, but she did,” she said.

 

A Welsummer chicken belonging to 16-year old La Porte area resident Kim Crawford took the heavyweight title with a flight of more than 37 feet. Crawford said she did not expect her bird, “Cheese,” to do nearly that well given her age and lack of experience at flying.

 

“She is an old hen and I’ve never flown her before.  I’m pretty happy.  It’s a pretty good feeling."

 

Her family has about 50 chickens used for selling eggs on their small farm.

 

A chicken belonging to Dakota Kennedy achieved the greatest distance of more than 44 feet to take the featherweight division title. Her bird fell just a few feet short of becoming the grand champion, though.

 

About 40 youth in the 4-H program entered their birds in the contest, per Carolyn Krause, a member of the La Porte County 4-H Poultry Committee. Krause said the chicken flying contest is the most popular 4-H event during the fair, which runs through July 15th. 

 

After landing, Krause noted how the chickens being chased with nets while trying to escape the arena is a real crowd pleaser.

 

“They love to see them run,” she said.

 

Leading the cheering section was Carlene Mudd, who comes from Louisiana with her family annually to visit her parents outside La Porte and come to the fair. Mudd said she especially likes rooting for the chickens during their usually short lived bid for freedom.

 

“We like to see the chickens escape. We’re cheering for the chickens."