Lillian Broschart gives her rooster named Ron positive vibes (top) as she presents him to judges at the 106th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. Above, Lillian and Ron with their second-place ribbon.
Story by Rick Hiduk / Photos by Marie Kauffman
(Originally published in the Sullivan County Review)
At just 9 years old, Sullivan County 4-H member Lillian Broschart has already done a lot with the club, including archery, sewing backpacks and blankets as expressive arts, and showing a bull named Rusty at the Sullivan County Fair in 2020. She also had a successful outing at the Fair in 2021 showing poultry, getting a first place in Showmanship with a rooster named Harry and Best of Breed with a hen named Luna.
This year, she showed poultry at the Pennsylvania Farm Show for the first time and took an impressive second place in the Youth Division with a rooster named Ron. It has been five years since Sullivan County has been represented at the Farm Show in the poultry division, and those handlers had a few more years of experience than Lillian did.
“This was Lillian’s first year and she did an outstanding job,” said her 4-H educator Sandy Pardoe. “She is not intimidated by a challenge and did an excellent job preparing for the PA Farm Show competition. She studied daily on her bus ride home from school to prepare.”
Lillian has lost several chickens to foxes at her Overton Township home, so she was happy to have Ron to take to the Farm Show. She referred to him as her “ultimate favorite” because he is both very handsome and listens well.
“Lillian is one of the most dedicated 9 year old’s that I have seen who is excited to learn more about poultry,” Pardoe noted.
A third-grader at Wyalusing Elementary School, Lillian is the daughter of John and Lynn Broschart who went to Harrisburg with her, along with her grandmother, Marie Kauffman; great aunt Catherine Reinart; and cousins, Isabella Bolognese and Ava Reinart. As the family rooted for her, Grandma took lots of photos.
Lillian belongs to a solid generation of 4-H members, including cousins Morgan and Maddy Broschart and Gabby and Tucker Evans and, very soon, her little sister, Lydia, who will show poultry at the county fair next year as a Cloverbud.
“She will be a great mentor to her younger sister,” Pardoe maintained. “Lillian is wonderful at working with youth at any age. She helps wherever she can in the 4-H Livestock Club. She works on her family farm with her two older cousins daily to take care of their steers and her chickens.”
Very articulate for a third-grader, Lillian had to answer questions from the judges as she showed Ron. “They are mostly looking for how your chicken is built and how you feed it. They asked what you like about your chicken and how many years you’ve been involved with poultry,” said Lillian. “I said that I like how he’s built – nice and big – and that’s really good for a chicken.” Each set of judges is different, though, she added.
Through 4-H, she has had the opportunity to participate in events with her cousins, even competing against them at times. In 2020, Maddy took Grand Champion, Lillian Reserve Champion, and Morgan a third place showing bulls. Another cousin shows dairy cows. It isn’t so much about the placement, Lillian insists, but about the fun and the experience.
Lillian has also made presentations on 4-H Demonstration Nights, where she was able to share her knowledge of incubating chicks, which she has done successfully with Guinea birds. While she isn’t sure what she might try next with 4-H, which she joined when she was 3 years old, Lillian is committed to the club.
“I think it educates me and helps me with my learning,” she says of 4-H. “It’s just something that will help me achieve things.”