Written by Amie Cope, Columbiana County 4-H Program Assistant
While teaching at The International Academy of Sfax in Tunisia, Africa, Bobbi Andes, an American educator, came across a Facebook post from her sister, Amie Cope, Columbiana County Program Assistant. The post featured Cope leading a ChickQuest lesson for a group of second graders. Inspired by her sister’s work, Andes reached out to express her enthusiasm and shared that she wished she could offer a similar experience to her own second-grade students.
The Response
Cope responded without a moment’s pause: “We can meet on Zoom. I’ll provide the incubator—just secure the eggs.” Andes was astonished. The idea of introducing such a distinctive program to a diverse, multicultural group of students had seemed both daunting and exhilarating. While Andes remained uncertain, Cope’s determination was unmistakable.
Months of Planning
Andes introduced the concept to her colleagues at the school. Although the specifics of the program and its potential benefits for students remained unclear to some, Cope provided detailed informational materials and outlined the available content to the school staff. Despite lingering doubts about the feasibility of the initiative, both Cope and Andes were resolute in their commitment to see it succeed. Once they received approval from the school administration, two immediate priorities emerged: transporting the incubator to Tunisia and sourcing eggs.
Coincidentally, Andes and her family traveled back to the United States for Christmas—their first visit in a decade. Much to their surprise, they found an incubator, feeder, and waterer waiting for them under the Christmas tree!
Upon their return to Tunisia, Andes faced the challenging task of obtaining eggs. In Tunisia, many poultry farmers still rely on traditional methods, and incubators are virtually unknown; this unfamiliarity heightened Andes’s concern that she might struggle to find properly fertilized eggs and would have to trust the farmers’ assurances. Additionally, the prevalence of unreliable sellers in Tunisian markets made her understandably apprehensive about the process.
Surprise!
On February 4, 2026, at 3:30 PM EST, Cope received a frantic message from Andes. She was given eggs—22 eggs to be exact! She also informed Cope that both 1st and 3rd graders would be joining for the lessons! So, a timeline for incubation was sent, along with a plan for the lessons.
Of Course, There Were Challenges
Cope originally scheduled the first lesson for February 10th, intending to introduce students to the life cycle, explain how the incubator functioned, and discuss each part of the egg. Unexpectedly, at 3:08 AM EST on February 9th, she received a voice message from Andes informing her of a fire in the school’s kitchen. Fortunately, everyone was safe, but the incident left half of the school—including Andes’ classroom, where the incubator was located—without power. The incubator was promptly relocated to the third-grade classroom, yet classes were suspended for at least a few more days.
Following a practice Zoom session with Andes and the other teachers on February 16th, the inaugural lesson took place on February 17th. The session sparked thoughtful discussion, highlighted by a surprise visit from Brutus!
Further complications arose on February 19th and 20th, as intermittent power outages persisted for several hours each day. Despite these challenges, the candling lesson remained scheduled for February 24th—requiring Cope to conduct an early morning session to accommodate the adjusted timetable for Ramadan.
But Why Make It Easy?
At 5:00 AM EST on February 24th, Cope received another voice message from Andes, informing her that the school had been without power for several hours. Despite the outage, Andes remained committed to conducting the Zoom call as planned—her laptop was fully charged, and she was prepared to use her phone as a hotspot. Fortunately, Cope and Andes had already reviewed the candling process together, and just the day before, Andes had recorded and shared videos of herself candling a few eggs for Cope’s reference. Cope quickly assembled additional materials, ensuring the lesson proceeded seamlessly. There was even a surprise cameo by Brutus, who appeared while playing with some chicks at The Shoe—though perhaps it’s best not to mention that to Coach Day!
We Have Chicks!
On February 27, 2026, the first chicks made their debut. By day’s end, students observed the remarkable arrival of fifteen hatchlings. A week later, on March 3rd, each of the fifteen chicks was welcomed into a new home by a different student.
Andes’ Connection to Ohio 4-H
Indeed, Andes is the sister of Amie Cope, who serves as the Columbiana County Program Assistant. Yet Andes brings her own impressive credentials as an Ohio 4-H alumna, having participated in the Carroll County 4-H program for a decade. Reflecting on her experience, Andes expressed deep gratitude—both on her own behalf and that of her fellow educators—for the opportunities this program provided to her students. For many, the chance to see and experience life beyond Tunisia was extraordinary, offering possibilities they might otherwise never have encountered.