Lorin Hoffman-Lurz Published 2:59 p.m. PT March 17, 2017 | Updated 2:59 p.m. PT March 17, 2017

Undefeated members of the 3 Egg Omelet are from left to right: Kayla Hurl, Abby Milanesa and Siana Barrett. The proud moderator is Francine A. Bradley, Ph.D., extension poultry specialist emerita, U.C., Davis.(Photo: Provided)

The 2017 California State Senior Avian Bowl Finals were held Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Fresno County Fairgrounds. Several teams composed of high school aged students competed in this poultry knowledge bowl. Local student, Abby Milanesa of the Buena Vista 4-H club and her two teammates: Kayla Hurl from Parkfield and Siana Barrett from Dos Palos entered the competition as the 3 Egg Omelet. They went undefeated in each heat and claimed the California State Senior Avian Bowl Championship. In addition to each girl winning a belt buckle for their efforts, they will now advance to the National Avian Bowl contest this November which will be held at the National Poultry and Egg Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

An Avian Bowl is a double-elimination knowledge bowl based on poultry-related subject matter. 4-H members from any state who want to compete must use the Clemson University study guide to prepare. This years topics included embryology, biosecurity, understanding food poisoners and several other avian subjects. Each state hosts a qualifier in which both junior and senior teams compete against each other. Questions vary and team contestants must use a buzzer to answer the questions to earn points. Seeding is accomplished by a written exam before the competition.

This isnt 14 year old Abbys first State Avian Bowl win. I started competing in Avian Bowl when I was nine, stated Abby. That year, I was on a team with my sister, Ellie, and Mariah OGrady. It was the first year I was allowed to compete at the state level, and it was my sister and Mariahs last year eligible to compete as juniors, so it was the only year we would have ever have been able to compete together. I studied really hard and we won the State Junior competition that year.

Deirdre OGrady, one of Abbys 4-H poultry project leaders, said, Abby knew she had stiff competition going in, but with her years of Avian Bowl experience was able to finish strong. Abby continued, There were 2 teams from Ventura County, and one of them I already knew. I also knew they were really good. When I saw them, I got really nervous, and I didnt think we would beat them. After the written test, the Ventura County team was seeded first and we

were second. The first time we came up against them, initially we were losing by 10 points. Then we came back to quickly answer the knowledge questions which gave us the lead in that round, and it came down to the last question. We were the only team who beat them, and we beat them twice. It wont be the first time Abby has travelled to Kentucky. Her sister won the state title in 2015 and the family traveled to Kentucky. Ellies California team won that year. Abby said I am really excited to be going to Nationals, and I have A LOT of studying to do between now and then. I also am really glad that I have 2 very strong teammates to compete with.

To receive more information about the National Avian Bowl or the Monterey County 4-H Program, contact Lorin Hofmann-Lurz, Monterey County 4-H Program Representative at 759-7386 or lhofmannlurz@ucanr.edu.

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Abby Milanesa of the Buena Vista 4-H wins state title - The Salinas Californian