Local 4-H member finds her calling through feathered friends | Orcas Island teen’s passion for chickens leads to ornithology dreams

By Darrell Kirk

Sounder contributor

For Solianna (Soli) Halabisky, what started as a 4-H project with chickens has hatched into a lifelong passion and career path.

The recent high school graduate from Orcas Island spent her final year in the island’s 4-H Feathers group, wrapping up nearly a decade of participation in the program. This past Sunday, she said goodbye to Elizabeth, her well-barred breed hen, at the county fair auction.

“My chicken’s name kind of varies day to day, but today her name is Elizabeth,” Halabisky said with a smile. The nearly year-old hen, who just started laying eggs, is one of three sisters who are difficult to tell apart. “She’s going to be perfect for someone who’s just starting a new flock or wanting to do 4-H. She’s pretty friendly.”

The well-barred breed is known for good egg production and calm temperaments, making them ideal for families with children.

“They’re just really chill chickens, so good for kids and like to be held,” Halabisky explained.

After nine years in 4-H, Halabisky credits the program with teaching her far more than animal husbandry.

“When you’re in 4-H with your animals, you learn just a lot more about them and how to take care of them, and then if you have any questions, there’s always good leadership there,” she said.

The experience has shaped her academic future in ways she never expected. “My biggest takeaway from 4-H is that I actually just love taking care of animals and having them around,” she said. “It’s actually kind of led to my field of study in college this year.”

This fall, Halabisky will begin studying biology at the University of Washington with hopes of becoming an ornithologist. “

It’s really from having chickens that I fell in love with bird biology,” she said.

While parting with Elizabeth brings some sadness, Halabisky feels confident about her hen’s future.

“I know that the 4-H community and the people that are at the auction are all animal lovers, and so I feel confident that she’s going to go to someone who wants to have chickens and is going to have fun.”