His cousin, Bruce, has been putting the wow factor into the Smithville festival for the last eight years with his hatchery display.

At a family function eight years ago, Steve nominated Bruce to take control of the demonstration, which Bruce now begins prepping for a month in advance of the festival each year.

Bruce and Cheryl set up five incubators in the basement of their Smithville residence when the timing is just right, with the hope that hundreds of eggs will hatch on command during PoultryFest.

Two transparent incubators, and about 500 eggs make their way to the Smithville Fairgrounds at 6 a.m. each PoultryFest morning, where Bruce, Cheryl, youngsters and tourists press their faces up against the glass to watch them hatch.

"When you see the little kids faces when a chick hatches, it's inspiring," said Cheryl.

Bruce agreed, saying the ages of interest ranges. Once, a 90-year-old woman pulled up a lawn chair to sit through a particular egg's hatching, he said.

It's a delicate job, teaching people about chicks, without turning them off from eating chicken, he added.

"You get all the odd questions. One lady even asked how the eggs got fertiled," he smiled.

This year's PoultryFest display featured a mish-mash of turkey, chickens, geese, peacocks and quail.