Students at the Kerr Center for Agriscience, a public school in Mesa, have a chance to learn hands-on skills in the agriscience and environmental sustainability fields through outdoor land lab lessons.

One of the school’s programs allows for students to take care of an animal of their choice in preparation to show it off at the Maricopa County Fair.

On March 26, students participated in the Westwood Regional Show, which included presenting their chickens to a judge who walked down one end of a table to the other, critiquing the chickens, the way the student holds the chicken and the way the student maintains eye contact with the judge.

Three Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member students participated in the show, Meilani Patrick, Clarissa Coron and Brady Enos.

After a tough competition, Enos won not only his Rhode Island red chicken’s category, but also for best overall chicken in the contest. He named his chicken “Nugget.” Enos, an eighth-grade student, was awarded a special belt buckle for the final win.

“[The wins] felt amazing. This is my passion to [take care of] chickens and do chicken shows,” Enos said with a big grin.

Enos held his composure while grasping the chicken. Many of the other participants had difficulties holding the animals because of their feisty nature.

“If you’re not calm, the chicken’s not going to stay calm,” he said.

During the event, Enos and Patrick qualified for the Maricopa County Fair’s livestock and small stock competitions during its opening week on April 4. They were judged by how the chicken was presented in its cage. Both came home with first place ribbons for their chickens.

Enos participated in the fair’s small stock auction of the animals on April 11. He entered the ring with his chicken and showed it off while the auctioneer began the bidding. Nugget was sold for $600.

Kerr Show Team Advisor, and second grade teacher Cheyenne Enos was emotional about Enos’ wins. Brady is her son, and she is very proud of him. She lives in the SRPMIC and is married to Community member Logan Enos.

“[Brady’s] been showing chickens for four years. The first year he did this, I just about threw up for nerves for him,” said Cheyenne Enos, who is in her second year at Kerr and previously taught at Salt River Schools for 16 years. “It’s been amazing to watch him grow. Now, he just does this like it’s natural.”

When he has time out of the classroom, Enos likes to work with his chicken. He gets to school early and checks for eggs. Any free time he gets, you find him in the barn.