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CORVALLIS - The Oregon Fryer Commission's sixth annual Youth Pen of Fryers Contest will be held on Saturday, June 28, at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall. Oregon youth under 20 years of age as of June 28 are eligible to participate in this statewide contest.

Each contestant must register by June 6 and the fee is $5.

The contest will be a bit different this year, according to James Hermes, poultry specialist for the Oregon State University Extension Service and contest organizer. "The Oregon Poultry Industry is very concerned about Exotic Newcastle Disease, a highly contagious poultry disease that is a problem in southern California," Hermes said. "As a result of this situation, the Oregon Fryer Commission decided on a different approach to the 2003 contest. This year instead of judging birds, contestants will compete using their creativity in one of four contests categories."

Category 1. Oregon poultry is fresh and all natural. With that in mind, create a model or image of a chicken made out of materials found in nature (leaves, flowers, branches, egg shells, etc.). Include a one-paragraph description of the entry explaining the materials used to create the chicken and why you selected those materials.

Category 2: Develop a tool or piece of technology a farmer can use in the poultry industry (such as a chicken plucker, egg catcher, etc.). Entries in this category must include a drawing or prototype of the tool and a one-paragraph description explaining how the tool is used.

Category 3: Design a broiler or laying facility. Entries must include a labeled floor plan of the facility and a one-page explanation of the design.

Category 4: Write a one-page essay on the Oregon poultry industry. The content of entries may be creative, factual, historical or production oriented. Essays will be judged based on originality/creativity, clarity, grammar and overall quality.

Prizes will include a total purse of $3,000 in savings bonds, as well as medals and ribbons for the top 10 contestants in each category.

The fifth annual Oregon Poultry Olympics, games and activities for contestants, will be held during the judging and scoring. The Oregon Fryer Commission will provide a barbecued chicken lunch for contestants and their families.

For information about the contest, and to receive a registration form, contact Hermes at 541-737-2254, or by e-mail: James.Hermes@oregonstate.edu. Information about the contest is available on the web at: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/animal-sciences/ofccon03.htm.