Exhibitors casually walk around the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus with chickens and other birds tucked under their arms, while a constant squawking fills the air.

It was a common sight, and sound, at last weekend's 2009 Ohio National, sponsored by the Ohio Poultry Breeders Association. A record 5,814 birds and 524 exhibitors took part in the event.

For Licking County youth, the Ohio National is an opportunity to learn from and compete with bird enthusiasts from across the country.

Jersey Township resident Carrie Lewis attended the show with her daughter Erin, 14, who participated in showmanship with her brown leghorn bantam hen.

"We got involved through John deSaavedra, who's known as the chicken man from Licking County," Carrie Lewis said. "He has so much poultry knowledge. Erin won in fancy poultry at the Hartford Fair. That's why we went to Nationals. We want that competition. We absolutely love it. There are top breeders from across the country."

Erin Lewis, from Pataskala's JC Servants 4-H Club, began preparing for the National meet two days before the Nov. 13-14 show.

"You start out by giving them a bath," she said. "Some birds like it and other birds don't so you get soap all over you. Then we blow dry our birds. In the summer, you can sit them in the sun. After that, we clip their toenails and beaks."

After the birds are prepped to show, Lewis studies her 4-H books and handouts to be ready for judging.

Johnstown's Seth Abel, 9, of the American Traditions 4-H Club, also competed in showmanship with a grey Call Duck and Dominique chicken, considered America's oldest breed.

"In showmanship, they ask questions about the breed and the parts of the bird," Abel said. "They look at how you take the bird in and out of the cage. You should take it in and out head first. I like the Call Ducks, because they're nice and small and easy to handle."

In preparing for last Saturday's show, he pointed out parts of his duck--- the wing, wing bow, primary feathers, secondary feathers and axial feather.

His sister Rebekah, 14, competed in showmanship with a Dominique chicken.

"I'm showing a pullet that's a female under one year old," she said. "In showmanship, they mostly test your knowledge and handling of the bird. They want to see how much you know about the breed and their health."

Although she didn't place at Nationals last weekend, she did take reserve champion at the state fair.

"I like to show chickens," she said. "They have a lot of personality running around the yard. They run up to you to see if you have snacks."

In addition to Rebekah and Seth, their brother Ben, 11 also competed in showmanship with a chicken.

Although none of the Licking County youth placed in showmanship, Erin Lewis said she just enjoyed the experience at the National meet.

"It's such a great time to hang out with breeders and learn new stuff," she said. "There are so many different kinds of birds at that show that you don't see at the fair. They have birds there that are rare that you normally don't see."

Lewis said she hopes to show a bird that she has raised from a chick next year.

"My favorite part is watching them hatch," she said. "It takes hours and sometimes days for them to come out of the egg. I think its fun to raise your birds from a chick. I hope to show a bird that we've bred."

In addition to the youth contest part of the show, vendors sell items ranging from "have you hugged your chicken today" T-shirts to heated water feeders.

Visitors can also watch judges break and inspect eggs, and a swap area of the center provides every size, type and color of bird imaginable that's for sale.

Exhibitors from throughout the United States also enter their birds to win champion and reserve champion honors in various classes.

For complete show results, visit ohionational.org.