Eggs are hard to come by at the grocery store lately, but you’ll also be hard pressed to find chickens — and cows for that matter — at this year’s L.A. County Fair, due to the ongoing spread of H5N1, commonly known as bird flu.
To counter the spread, California in January issued a ban on all poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs.
As of January, 720 cases of bird flu in livestock have been reported, the latest numbers available.
Two farmhouse stars are skipping the LA County Fair this year
“We made the decision a few months ago, when it did come out, just not to have them on the grounds,” said Walter Marquez, president of Fairplex, which hosts the L.A. County Fair in Pomona every year.
But no need to have a cow! There are still plenty of animals to highlight in the agricultural exhibitions and petting zoos.
So, what other animals are there?
A big highlight of any county fair for elementary kids is the chance to interact with all the animals in the Big Red Barn petting zoo. This year there will be more than 150 animals to pet instead, Marquez said.
Livestock competitions featuring llamas, rabbits, goats and sheep will also be held.
Will kids still learn about cows?
Yes. One component of the agricultural exhibition is educating the public on the process behind getting products like milk from the animals into your refrigerator.
“It’s the idea of what happens to the milk. Pasteurization, what does that mean? Where does cheese come from? How does milk get used in that? The ice cream components of it,” said Marquez, adding that visitors will also learn about the dairy industry itself.
The fair will still feature an exhibit where people can milk a cow — but it's going to be a model instead of a real heifer.
And, yes. The memorable cream top chocolate milk from Batista Family Farm will still be there for anyone wanting a taste of the rich chocolate milk.
Will there still be chicks?
Another beloved part of the fair is not only getting to look at and pet chickens, but holding baby chicks. That is partially still in place.
“We are allowed to have hatching eggs and incubators. We will have a small demonstration of that in our farm area,” Marquez said.
That means you can still watch the miracle of life take place. You’ll just have to wait a little while to touch those fuzzy creatures again.
When will the cows and the chickens be back?
It’s unclear when the ban will be lifted.
The guidance from the state veterinarian and the California Department of Agriculture simply says they can’t be showcased “until further notice.” In other guidance, the department says that while they're seeing dairies testing negative after a bird flu infection, that doesn’t translate to a significant statewide recovery. The department says they’ll evaluate risks every month.
So for now, the goats, llamas and lambs will have to do.
How to visit:
LA County Fair
Dates: May 2 to May 26
Opening Day: Friday, May 2 – 5 to 11 p.m.
Regular Days: Thursday through Sunday and Memorial Day, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Location: 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona
