CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Twelve year-old Ryan Landis of Circleville had his sights set on this year’s Pickaway County Fair. A 4-H member, he was hoping to show his two Rhode Island Reds and four Wyandotte chickens at the fair, which starts June 22.
Landis can still attend the fair, but he’ll have to leave his chickens in his family’s barn – bird shows have been canceled.
In an aggressive move designed to help protect Ohio’s $2.3 billion poultry industry from the avian flu that has so negatively impacted other poultry-producing states, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) canceled all live bird exhibitions this year. The ban includes county and independent fairs, the Ohio State Fair and all other gatherings of birds for show or for sale, including auctions and swap meets.
Similar bans have been enacted in other poultry states. So far, Ohio is virus-free and the move is intended to try to maintain that status.
"This was a difficult decision because it means young people can’t show their birds at fairs, but it’s in the best interest of an industry that literally thousands of Ohio families and businesses depend on, and which provides billions of dollars to our state’s economy," ODA Director David Daniels told reporters last week.
"The right move isn’t always the easy move, but this is the right move, especially when you see just how devastating the virus has been to other big poultry states like Iowa and Minnesota. Ohioans need to do all we can to ensure that we protect our industry and that we help avoid a costly spike in the price of important foods like chicken, turkey and eggs."
Ohio is the second largest egg producer in the country and home to 28 million laying chickens, 12 million broilers, 8.5 million pullets and 2 million turkeys. Ohio’s egg, chicken and turkey farms employ more than 14,600 and contribute $2.3 billion to the state’s economy. Ohio’s role in national poultry production is even greater considering the loss other major poultry states are experiencing.
Weighing in on the decision to ban bird shows at fairs was State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Forshey. "One of the ways avian influenza spreads is by direct contact with contaminated materials coming from other infected birds," he said. "This means that exhibitions, auctions and swap meets where birds are comingling pose a high risk of unintentionally spreading this disease.
"Until we can be sure that there has been no transference from the wild bird population migrating through the state, we need to do all we can to minimize the exposure for our domestic birds."
ODA is working with county and independent fair boards to identify options that will keep youth who are already raising poultry from losing their opportunity to have a fair project. The recommendations include amending the deadlines for students to switch projects and allowing the use of props or photos in place of live birds.
"The experience of raising a live animal to show at the fair builds character and teaches responsibility," Daniels said. "We don’t want to deprive anyone the opportunity to complete their projects.
"For that reason, we are working with Ohio State University extension to send out guidance to the fair boards and 4-H committees, urging them to be creative and find a solution that will allow their young people to still have a fair experience, even if they cannot bring their project to the fairgrounds."
