The same reason you might see the price of eggs and chicken go up is why you also might see kids showing different animals at local fairs. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection announced that it was suspending all poultry shows, exhibitions, and swap meets statewide through May 31st due to ongoing concerns about the highly pathogenic avian influenza. Four other states, including nearby Illinois, have instituted similar rules. That means you will not find poultry animals at next month’s Door County 4-H Small Animal Swap, when many youths pick a duck, a chicken, or other birds to prepare for county and state fairs. Door County 4-H Coordinator Dawn VandeVoort says they are doing it out of caution and hopes the bird flu is cleared up before the fair season begins.

VandeVoort says a decision on whether or not poultry will be allowed at fairs like the Kewaunee County Fair July 8th through 11th and Door County Fair August 10th-14th will come from the state DATCP. The Door County 4-H Small Animal Swap will still take place on May 7th, beginning at 7 a.m.