 displaying two of his most prized chickens at the day-long show, but he wasn't expecting to walk away with many awards.
Much to Kennedy's surprise, however, he ended up taking home three different prizes — all for first place.
"I was stunned," he said. "I was hoping I would get something, but I wasn't expecting what I got."
At the Cayuga County Fair earlier this summer, Kennedy entered his two bantam cochin chickens, Fluffy and Blu, into the 4-H competition and was awarded three ribbons. He took home first-in-show in the 8- to 14-year-old division, automatically qualifying him to enter the same birds into the New York State Fair competition in Geddes.
Kennedy said he was nervous at first, especially as the awards were about to be announced. He said he began to pack everything up and wasn't really paying attention to the ceremony taking place around him. But when he heard his name called for first place, everything changed.
"When I see that I've won, I get a big smile on my face and strut right up there like a peacock," Kennedy said.
By the time the day was over, Kennedy had strutted three times. He won first-place ribbons for the best bantam chicken in his division, master showman and poultry junior champion, which declared his chickens the best in the entire show.
Kennedy has been entering his chickens into shows for about three years. His love of the bird began when he was younger and would visit his grandparents' friends house and see the chickens they had in their barn.
"I used to love playing with them," Kennedy said. "I loved feeding them, picking them up and collecting the eggs."
By the age of 7, Kennedy had his own collection of chickens and started entering shows as part of his 4-H program. Anytime he told his parents he wanted a new chicken, he would complete household chores to earn the money to pay for them. He now has close to 50 chickens, in a variety of breeds, that he keeps in a coop behind his family's house — and he works hard to take care of every single one of them.
"Sometimes I have to tell him to just get some sleep and not go out to the coop so early in the morning," said Sean's mother, Tracie Kennedy.
She said her son spends as many hours as he can each day playing with the chickens and caring for them and the other animals the family has behind the house. The time he spends with them can sometimes get away from him.
"He's actually slept in the chicken coop before," Tracie said.
Sean explained that there is a lot of work involved in preparing chickens for shows, including a great deal of grooming. In the short time he's been competing, he has taken home 15 different prizes, six of which he won in the past few months. All show the growth he's achieved in such a short period.
The ribbons in his collection range in different places and categories, but of all the prizes he has been awarded, Sean said being named master showman, which measures one's knowledge of a particular breed of chicken, is what makes him the proudest.
"Anyone can buy a nice chicken, but not anyone can win the showman award," he said.
Tracie said she and her husband were also members of 4-H when they were young, and although she is happy to see Sean follow in their footsteps, the simple fact that her son found something he loves so much brings her the most joy.
"He works really hard, and nobody pushes him to do this," she said. "He just has a special gift of knowing about chickens, and I'm really proud of him. This is just his thing."
Later in September, Sean will enter his prize-winning bantams into his first non-4-H poultry show, competing against a much bigger group. No matter how he ends up placing, he said he will continue to care for his family of chickens for years to come, and that all the work he puts into his hobby will never be too much.
"I just love having them," he said. "They're magnificent to me."
Staff writer Kelsey Durham can be reached at 282-2237 or kelsey.durham@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @CitizenDurham.‘Chamisa election petition was late’ - August 12, 2018
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2,890 total views, no views todayManchester United Under-23s were thrashed by Chelsea's youngsters, who extended their lead over Manchester City in the Premier League...
Manchester United Under-23s were dealt a crushing blow by Chelsea Under-23s, who thrashed them 6-1.
The Red Devils team was full of budding stars, including summer signing Facundo Pellestri - who was on a run of three goals in three games.
The Uruguayan was brought in from Penarol for a fee of around £8m and has been touted as a star for the future.
But he was largely blunted in attack as the Blues ran riot at Kingsmeadow.
In fact, United were staring at defeat just 180 seconds into the match after Chelsea went 2-0 up.
Marcel Lewis opened the scoring after a mistake from Teden Mengi and that lead was doubled almost immediately through Jude Soonsup-Bell.
The 16-year-old has been rattling goals in for fun for the Under-18s and has taken to the next level with ease.
After 34 minutes, Tino Anjorin made it three after returning to the Under-23s after a spell with the first-team.
It is clear that the 19-year-old is destined for more first-team minutes after running the show against the Red Devils.
And following the break, Chelsea resumed their dominance when Anjorin netted from the penalty spot.
Lewis grabbed his second and Charlie Lewis came off the bench to score before Joe Hugill netted a late consolation for the away side.
But it will be a sobering loss for the Red Devils youngsters, who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a lot of faith in.
Mengi, Pellestri, Hugill and Hannibal Mejbri have been touted for big things but they met an academy team that are renowned for winning.
It leaves United sixth in the table, seven points behind league leaders Chelsea.
But more concerning is the fact that Neil Wood's team have conceded more than anyone in the league - with a total of 28 goals let in.
The second-worst team for goals conceded is Leicester, who sit 10th in the table and have let in 22.Yoga offers endless health benefits. Yoga will keep your mind and body relaxed, active, and energetic. It helps in proper blood circulation in the body. Hence, many diabetic patients are trying to get healed with various yoga poses. Doctors also recommend yoga to diabetic patients as this can lower the blood sugar level and improve blood circulation in the body. Many ask, can yoga cure diabetes permanently? To get the answers, one should know how various yoga poses heal a diabetic patient.
Yoga has a healing effect on the body. Different yoga poses offer different benefits. Let us check how a diabetic patient gets benefits from yoga.
If you practice asanas daily, it will rejuvenate the pancreatic cells. Yoga postures stretch the pancreas and automatically stimulates the production of insulin in the body.
Regular yoga practice will help the muscle cells to uptake more glucose. This system will lower the blood sugar level from the blood cells.
Many get diabetic due to obesity. Yoga poses help in weight reduction. The more you reduce your weight, the lesser you will get attacked by diabetes.
Upavista Bakrasana or sitting crane.
Bakrasana or standing crane.
Dhanurasana, etc., are great for healing diabetes.
Apart from asanas, doctors also suggest for breathing exercises to lower the blood sugar level. These breathing exercises prove immensely effective for diabetes patients.
Anulom Blom:- This nostril breathing exercise gives a calm effect to the nervous system. This pranayama helps to maintain stress and keep the blood sugar level under control.
Kapalbhatti:- This is a quick inhale and exhale of breath. It stimulates the pancreas and improves the production of insulin. These breathing exercises help in maintaining a balance between the pituitary gland and pancreas.
These asanas and pranayamas help to control the blood sugar level. Regular practice of yoga will balance the BMR or the Basic Metabolic Rate.
Yoga and other mind-body therapies are doing well in treating diabetes. These therapies reduce the level of hyperglycemia that creates stress in human beings. Hence these therapies make a good effect in controlling blood glucose. There are various other yoga techniques that you can learn when you connect with a professional yoga practitioner or even take suggestions from doctors in