Local students Hannah Enskat and Madison Richter will represent Alabama at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 15. The conference, which includes five separate competitive events, gives teenagers like Enskat and Richter the chance to compete against students from across the country.

The competition will also afford them the rare opportunity to demonstrate their skills in front of a panel of experts.

Richter and Enskat each took first place in their divisions at the 4-H Poultry Week earlier this year, qualifying them to move on to the national competition. Richter, who is home-schooled, will show off her chicken barbecuing skills at the competition, while Enskat, an 11th-grade student at Clements High School, will compete in the egg presentation division at nationals.

Richter has been practicing her preparation and grilling techniques with friends and family, much to their delight. Her barbecue sauce recipe was passed down to her by her father, who was also a 4-H’er as a youth.

“The sauce is really simple,” Richter said. “The real secret to perfect chicken is to baste and turn it every 5 minutes.”

She said she prefers to use hickory coals, because it gives the chicken the perfect smoky flavor.

In addition to demonstrating she can barbecue a half-chicken like nobody’s business, Richter will have to give an oral presentation on the poultry industry before a panel of judges.

She earned second place in her age group at the national level of the turkey barbecue competition in 2016. Richter said additional practice and expert advice will give her the edge required to gain first place this year.

To get that practice and advice, she turned to her dad, the capable staff at Limestone County 4-H Extension Office and Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q in Decatur.

“He made all the difference when I was competing in the turkey-cue a couple of years ago,” Richter said. “This time he really worked with me to teach me tips to keeping the chicken moist and the fire under control.”

Enskat has also been working hard to master her “Ultimate Cheese Egg Bowl” recipe, a pastry and egg concoction she found online. She too will have to give an oral presentation to a panel of experts, explaining the versatility and nutritional value of eggs in 10 minutes or less.

Chloe Wilson, a 4-H Extension agent, said the office may have helped Enskat and Richter prepare for competition, but the end result and its benefits are up to them.

“At the end of the day, it is up to them to practice and learn the information,” Wilson said. “All of these skills students acquire will be useful to them in college, in the workforce and in life in general.”

Last year, the national 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference, drew 147 4-H’ers from 26 different states, including Limestone County’s own Clay Woods, who won third place in the turkey barbecue division.