By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
As the Wood County Fair Board gears up for the 2025 fair, the nationwide threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly called bird flu, may impact poultry projects and judging.
At Thursday’s fair board meeting, plans moved ahead as if poultry judging will proceed. The board approved spending up to $400 for leg bands and antigen testing for all poultry projects.
However, whether poultry projects will be allowed at the fair this year remains a wait-and-see situation.
According to Doug Michaelis, chair of the poultry department, several fairs may have already canceled poultry shows for this year. There have not been any official announcements from other fairs or the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which oversees those regulations.
“It’s still too early (to make a decision). We’re aware of it and will be monitoring the situation,” said Fair Manager Laura Westgate.
“The decision will likely be made based on regulations from the Ohio Department of Agriculture,” said Fair Board President Paul Perry.
According to the ODA website, there are no reported cases of bird flu in Wood County or any of the surrounding counties. Four western counties in Ohio have reported avian influenza so far this year: Auglaize, Darke, Mercer and Van Wert counties.
“Nothing is going to come out until after the spring migration is over,” said Fair Director Jessica Nagle. “It could be June before we know anything.”
According to Nagel, Defiance County Fair is suggesting junior fair youth who have poultry projects consider adding a back-up animal, like rabbits. They would then have the option to drop those projects without penalty if poultry are allowed. ”That might be something we want to consider,” Nagel said.
Another option would be to hold a virtual poultry show. In 2015, all live bird exhibitions at Ohio’s county and state fairs were canceled to help prevent the spread of avian flu. That year, Wood County Fair’s poultry judging was done virtually, Michaelis said.
New pig class added
A new commercial pig class has been added to the junior fair swine judging this year. Nagel announced that she has a supplier for the pigs, which will be open to a maximum of 15 junior fair exhibitors. According to a post on the fair’s social media, the new pig class “is to get back to the basics of raising hogs.”
Instead of being judged for a “traditional show pig look,” the pigs are bred for consumption and will be judged in the show ring on those merits.
There will be a limited number of these pigs available for the 2025 fair. If selected, exhibitors will be allowed to purchase two pigs to show in the commercial hog class. They will have to register for a pig project through 4-H or FFA as well as enter the commercial hog class through Fair Entry.
Selected applicants will be notified of their selection by March 10th. It will be their responsibility to enter swine as a 4-H project before the March 15 deadline, if they are taking their commercial hog project through 4-H. The pigs, which will cost $75 each, will be available for pick up at the fairgrounds at a date to be announced in mid-April. Pig assignments will be made using a lottery system. The pigs may be sold through the fair board or go home for meat.
In other business, the board:
- Announced the Fair Foundation will host another Micro Wrestling Event in the Pratt Pavilion on March 22. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event starts at 8 p.m. More information is available here.
- Discussed revising the schedule for the release of projects at the end of the fair. Nagel said the committee is working to have uniformity in the release schedule to improve the safety and security during that time at the end of the fair. The plan is to start a half hour after the grandstand entertainment starts on the last day. The plan will be published ahead of the fair so everyone knows the traffic pattern.
- Heard the new gator and zero-turn mower delivered. The equipment was purchased with the remainder of the state grant the fair received, which also paid for the grandstand roof and some IT work in the administration building and fair office.
- Thanked the committee that organized the successful Guns and Purses event. The fundraiser raised $48,546, and after expenses of $26,240, the profit was over $20,200. Plans are being discussed about awarding junior fair scholarships from a percentage of the proceeds.
- Learned that the Catch-A-Pig contest will return for the 2025 fair. Director Conni Grames said sponsorships for the pigs are coming in, with 35 sponsors currently on board. Toni Violi reported the pig supplier has agreed to provide the pigs for the contest.
- Approved the purchase of a banner printer for approximately $20,000 to be paid with sponsorship funds as a downpayment and the remainder over four-year installments.
- Agreed to pay the matching share of the Ohio Harness Racing Association’s $9,056 grant.
