Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

The idea that participating in agriculture builds responsibility in young people is developed through Sophie’s journey into poultry farming. Sophie starts out as a “very responsible twelve-year-old” (1), but through raising and caring for Great-Uncle Jim’s unusual chickens, she grows her capacity to be responsible.

In Sophie’s first week on Great-Uncle Jim’s farm, she naturally begins to take on some of the responsibilities. She writes about how she “decided that since Mom and Dad are busy, I should start trying to clean some things up around here” (17). She goes on to say that she used “work gloves and safety goggles” to protect herself when sorting through Great-Uncle Jim’s junk piles (17). Sophie is not only willing to take on responsibilities around the farm, but the hazardous nature of the farm teaches her how to consider safety and personal protection. When Sophie first discovers Henrietta, she immediately seeks advice from Redwood Farm, who haven’t written back yet, and assures the people of Redwood Farm, “[d]on’t worry, I’m going to the library now and I’m sure they’ll have a book on how to take care of chickens” (33). The complexity of poultry farming requires education and resources, showing how agriculture can bring out a child’s responsible side when it comes to learning new skills.