A recent announcement by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship prohibits any live bird exhibits at county fairs and the Iowa State Fair.

Iowa currently has over 25 million in over 60 farms that have been impacted by the Avian Flu.  The goal is to minimize the risk of further exposure to more birds being infected.

Greene County ISU Extension 4-H and Youth Coordinator Sarah Jo Reynolds says it’s disappointing for those 4-H’ers that have worked hard all year to show poultry at the county fair.  However, she says they are planning on other activities for the exhibitors.

“We still want to have opportunities for the kids at county fair.  We hope that when you walk through the poultry and the rabbit barn, there’s still something there for you to learn about the poultry project.  We have nothing set in stone right now, but as soon as we do have that information, we will pass that on to the 4-H families as soon as possible.”

Reynolds encourages poultry exhibitors to identify their animals on their 4-H online profile by July 1st.

Anyone with questions about the poultry change to the county fair can call the Extension office in Jefferson at 386-2138.