Animals at Fairs, Exhibitions and in Agritourism
Agricultural fairs and exhibitions take place across the United States each year, and are a way for people to show, sell and interact with livestock and poultry. These show events, along with the growing, on-farm business of agritourism, are also opportunities for animals and people to share and spread diseases, particularly zoonotic diseases (spread between animals and humans) such as salmonella, rabies, influenza and brucellosis.
Whenever possible:
- Facilities managers should minimize human-animal contact.
- Visitors need information about disease risks and how to protect themselves from getting ill.
The resources listed on this page offer guidance and recommendations for both exhibitors and visitors.
For Facilities Managers and Exhibitors
Fairs and Exhibitions
- Issues for Fair Organizers to Consider When Planning Fairs - from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This page contains guidance to minimize influenza transmission at swine/pig exhibitions.
- Disease Prevention for Fairs and Festivals Toolkit - Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The toolkit covers facility design, animal care food safety, checklists and more.
Agritourism
- A Guide to Successful Agritourism Enterprises - from the University of Vermont Cooperative Extension. A guide for planning and assessing everything that goes into running an agritourism operation, including safety and risk management.
- Integrating Safety into Agritourism - from the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. A website with tools and resources that help farm owners keep visitors safe.
Students
- Excellence in Exhibition: Preventing Disease in Animals and People - Free courses for elementary and middle/high school students from The Center for Food Security and Public Health.
- Healthy Farms Healthy Agriculture Biosecurity Learning Modules - a series of six modules and accompanying activities for youth in agriculture, which can be adapted for post-secondary instruction too.
Visit the Animal Contact Compendium hosted by The National Association of State and Public Health Veterinarians for more resources on preventing disease associated with animals in public settings.
For Visitors
Zoonotic Diseases - a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page for farm visitors about zoonotic diseases, how germs spread and how to protect yourself from them.
Tips for Staying Healthy at Petting Zoos and Farms - Seattle & King County Public Health. Good tips for the spread of diseases at farms and petting zoos.
Healthy People, Healthy Pets - a CDC website with recommendations for avoiding illnesses from pets.
Videos
October 8, 2020 Biosecurity Community Conversation
This video features Roy Lee Lindsey, MS, executive director, Oklahoma Pork Council and Lisa Becton, DVM, MS, director, Swine Health, National Pork Board. The speakers discussed experiences with farm animal biosecurity and livestock exhibitions.
October 15, 2020 Biosecurity Community Conversation
Biosecurity concerns when youth take livestock to shows and exhibitions with Assistant State Veterinarian Amber Itle, DVM, Washington State Department of Agriculture and Extension Animal Sciences Regional Specialist Sarah Smith, Washington State University.