The Montezuma County Fairgrounds was a flurry of chicken feathers and scrappy kids Thursday for the first chicken chase of the 2020 summer fair.
Kids competed in age groups ranging from ages 3 to 8 to capture a chicken to take home. Kids ages 3 and 4 competed together.
“We’ve got five at home, and I wanted an even number,” Jessica Schaefer laughed after her 4-year-old son, Coltyn, triumphantly carried over a chicken. The family goes to the fairground every year, but it was Coltyn’s first catch.
Another 4-year-old, Ebberly Englehart, managed to nab a chicken as well. Her older sister caught one last year, so she had to catch one this year, Kelsey Englehart said. The family raises chickens at home, so it was nothing new for Ebberly.
For Kelson McCracken, it was his first time at the chicken chase, where he grabbed one before some of the other kids.
“The kids wanted to get out of the house,” his grandmother, Debbie Case, said. The family also raises 25 chickens at home.
Kelson’s younger brother “chickened out” of joining the other kids in his age group for the chase, but Lindsey McCracken said he will try next time after watching his older brother.
The Montezuma County Fair Board gave away 23 chickens in the chase on Thursday, with about 40 young contestants total. Organizer Brian Thornbrugh expects another 60 or 70 kids for the chicken chase run by the IFA on Friday at 2:30 pm.
Friday, there will also be a pig chase Friday for kids age 8 and up.
ehayes@the-journal.com