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State Fair of Texas 2017

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Susan Mouw:
Howard Story posted about this on FB - he didn't make the 6PM deadline (which was not clearly published beforehand by the Show Committee) and was turned away.  They did not refund entry fees to any of those birds, either.

I agree on the boycott for 2018.  If enough exhibitors/clubs do this, maybe it will be a wake-up call for the Show Committee.

Paul:
  I know that an empty barn is the only thing that is going to get the show managements attention!  The show officials will not even listen to their show superintendents!

  Paul Smith

Don:
Paul,  Most of the breeders in our area will not show at fairs.  Part of it is the hoops that county officials make exhibitors go through.  Part of it is the stress the birds have to sustain to be in close quarters with other's birds for a week at the time.  More time exposed to other flocks which may have some infection.  The NPIP P/T tests pretty useless IMO and are only indicative of that one eradicated infection.  There have been mandatory de-populations of farms after fairs where outbreaks of other things were found or suspected.  And there also has been a fair in our area where a child was thought to contract salmonella from one of the animal exhibits.  This caused all kinds of issues.

The old time poultry "string-men" are pretty much gone now.  But the livestock is normally a large draw for the fair goers.  Once the exhibit is down the Fair Board may realize its value and make changes.  I've even heard of one county fair that is paying a Club a nice check now to fill a certain number of coops for the week.  Time will tell if they really value the poultry exhibits for sure.       

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