ROME TOWNSHIP- Never mind the goose that laid a golden egg, Tim Humphrey's chickens earned him a large golden trophy and more than a few honors Tuesday during chicken competitions at the Lawrence County Fair.

Humphreys, 17, won the grand champion award, the showmanship award in the senior division, the shillathon winner in the senior division and was named "Showman of Showmen" when the chicken competition was completed.

Not that anyone was surprised by the young man's win: This is the third year he has taken home the grand champion trophy.

What's his secret to raising the best chickens in the county?

"I study, I read books, I check the Internet to learn better methods of raising poultry," he said. "I've had chickens since I was little. It's something I enjoy. It's one of the more equal projects at the fair because everyone gets their chicks from the same place (the 4-H Extension Office) and you don't have to spend a couple thousand dollars to win."

Dakota Barnett took home the reserve champion trophy. Like Humphrey, Barnett left the livestock arena with an armful of medals: she won first place in the junior division of the showmanship competition and first place in the junior division skillathon.

Barnett said her secret for handling nervous chickens during competition was simple.

"I practiced handling them and I paid close attention to the judge - and the chicken!"

Trent Thacker joined Humphrey and Barnett in the chicken competition by garnering third place.

In the fancy chickens category, Casey Caranda and Austin Bodimer got first and second place awards, respectively.

In the junior showmanship competition, Austin Bodimer and Tony Wilson took second and third place, respectively, to Barnett's first place. In the senior showmanship competition, Zach Adkins and Casey Caranda rounded out the top three behind Humphrey.

In the junior skillathon, Trent Thacker won second place to Barnett's first. In the senior skillathon, Humphrey's first-place award was followed by Destiny Straight in second place and Zach Adkins in third.