THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602020153
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Jannelle La Bouve
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Carissa Ballard, 13, a Deep Creek Middle school student and member of the 4-H Critter Club, came back from the Virginia State fair a winner.
``My bronze turkey was chosen grand champion for a large bird,'' said Carissa, explaining that the poultry competition required careful preparation and planning.
``Some people don't know how to groom poultry or how to hold them for competition,'' she said. ``I decide which chickens and turkeys look the best, and then I clean those up.
``You have to make sure the feathers are wiped clean and any waste must be pulled out,'' said Carissa.
``You have to make the sure the scales on their feet are in line and nice and smooth, too,'' she said. ``Their toenails cannot be too long and have to be cut nicely.''
She also makes sure each fowl has a perfectly shaped comb.
``The poultry ends up having personalities,'' said her mother, Coni Ballard. ``We work with them in pairs raising them. Carissa uses them in petting zoos. They're handled a lot, so they become really tame.
``Carissa has a level of maturity that she might not have gained from any organization other than 4-H,'' said Coni Ballard, who is a 4-H leader. ``The fact that they have to raise the animals, care for them and fill out the record books gives them a little more responsibility than you might get from any other organization.''
In addition to poultry and goats, the youngster plans to enter three rabbit breeds - Jersey wooleys, lops and rex - at the Chesapeake Jubilee livestock competition in late spring.
Her menagerie also includes pigeons, ducks, doves, about 20 rabbits, 10 goats, three sheep, a ferret, 10 cats and four dogs.
``Soon, I'll be getting pigs for my 4-H Livestock Club,'' she said.
``She is a good example of a well-rounded 4-H member,'' said Herbert W. Pettway, extension agent, 4-H-Youth. ``In my years here, I have watched her grow from the Cloverbud stage for the 5-year-olds. She stands out because she is active in every aspect of 4-H. She gives demonstrations and goes to camps to upgrade her skills. In addition to that, she's an excellent student.''
Full name: Carissa M. Ballard
Hometown: Chesapeake
Fond childhood memories: ``During kindergarten, I was in a school play, `The Three Little Pigs.' I was the pig with the brick house. It (the play) was adorable.''
Mother: Coni Marie Ballard
Hobbies: ``4-H Critter and Outdoor clubs. I always like a lot of animals. I like talking on the phone with my friends. I'm an outdoor person. I like going rock climbing and doing a lot of other outdoor things like rafting and hiking.''
Last book read: ``The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' by Robert Louis Stevenson.
What's your favorite game? ``I like football. We play hide-and-seek at night.''
Describe yourself as a color: ``My favorite color is green because people say it is a happy color, and I'm in a good mood all the time.''
If you could be any animal, what would it be? ``I think I'd like to be some kind of fish because I like the water.''
What irritates you the most? ``I live out in the country. When they cut down all the trees out here, it gets it really ugly. It used to be really pretty. I don't like that because it's not right to take away the air we breathe.''
Favorite type of music: ``I'd have to say alternative music. I like a group called Smashing Pumpkins and one called Salt N Pepa.''
Favorite movie: ``Forrest Gump''
Can't resist: ``Animals. They are adorable.''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``The fact that my mom and dad have split up.''
Favorite TV program: ``Seinfeld''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant. ``The Olive Garden is nice.''
Favorite way to spend a day: ``Meeting my friends at Greenbrier Mall and hanging out.''
What would you choose for a last meal? ``French fries. Everybody knows me for that.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
by CNB