Fair organizers across the state are having to make adjustments to their plans for this summer after the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship decided to prohibit all live poultry from both county and state events.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Marketing and Communications Coordinator Caitlyn Ryan tells Raccoon Valley Radio they are working with the Dallas County Fair poultry superintendent to find innovative ways for youth to still showcase their projects without physically having the birds at the fair.
Last year, Ryan says they had nearly 30 youth show poultry including chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail and pigeons. While the ban will only affect a small portion of the overall fair, she says they know there are some disappointed 4-H members who take pride in showing their animals, especially those they have bred and raised themselves.
However, Ryan says 4-Hers practice excellent biosecurity and understand that if they would have brought poultry to the fair, there would be an increased risk of exposing the birds to the avian influenza.
This year’s Dallas County Fair takes place July 8th through the 12th.