Bird Cages Vacant at the Muskingum County Fair

Normally, while walking through the poultry barn at the Muskingum County Fair you can hear birds clucking or crowing. That’s all different this year.

Some cages have stuffed chickens and most have posters detailing the projects 4-H kids completed. That’s because as the avian flu spreads throughout the Midwest, the state has banned poultry shows for all county fairs.

“I honestly started crying,” said 2015 Poultry Ambassador, Samantha Mozena. “I enjoy it so much.”

Normally, she’d be showing a chicken, but this year she only has a poster. Her chickens forced to stay at home. Laughing while saying they’re in the barn at home, just eating.

Although the show has changed this year, the education continues. Future 4-H members still visit the poultry barn during the barn to barn tours.

Mozena showed them how to take birds in and out of cages. She also discussed the avian flu with the clover buds.

“It’s kind of like when you guys get sick how you don’t feel very well and you don’t really want to be around other people.”

Even without poultry, fair goers still walk through the barn. Zanesville resident and former 4-H member Judie Northrop said she learned a lot.

“They couldn’t bring their stuff, so we thought we’d come in and see what they put instead of their project,” she added that, “it’s really interesting.”

Still, Mozena said it’s tough this year.

“Usually kids are so excited to see the animals, and you could kind of see they were kind of disappointed when they walked in and didn’t see the animals and couldn’t pet a real one,” she said.

She gave a word of advice and hope for those wanting to show poultry in later years.

“Just because you can’t show them this year doesn’t mean you can’t in the future.”

Also, Northrop said “Keep at it because we’re behind them.”