The Colorado State Fair

PUEBLO, Colo.-The Colorado State Fair is promoting animal health by supporting two important youth organizations by requiring all 4-H and FFA livestock entries, with the exception of horses, to have a premises identification number for the 2007 Colorado State Fair.

“There were a couple of exhibitors who didn’t have the appropriate paperwork and were unable to sell their animals,” continued Wiseman. “Overall, the implementation went very smoothly and I’m happy the Colorado State Fair was able to participate in a system that works to maintain the health of Colorado’s livestock population.”

A replacement animal was chosen for those animals dropped from the Junior Livestock Sale. Those families unable to sell their livestock will be compensated for their travel expenses and also given the same amount the replacement animal is sold for.

Colorado 4-H and FFA leaders made a request to the Colorado State Fair Board of Authority after the Colorado State 4-H office instituted a policy that requires all livestock projects for the 2007-08 4-H year to have a premises identification number.

“The Colorado State Fair is dedicated to youth and agriculture; supporting 4-H and FFA is a large part of that mission,” said State Fair General Manager, Chris Wiseman. “Thousands of animals from across the state arrive at the Fair, which can be a high-risk setting for disease transmission; it’s important that animal health officials have the tools to stop a disease outbreak as quickly as possible.”

Premises identification is a portion of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and identifies where livestock are or have been located. It is voluntary at the federal and state levels, costs nothing, and requires only general information: contact person and phone number, mailing and physical location, type of livestock on the premises.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture and its Colorado Livestock Security System (CLSS) encourage participation in the NAIS to help USDA and Colorado maintain the health of all of Colorado’s livestock.

“Looking to the future of agriculture, it’s vital that we help protect Colorado livestock from the threat of disease outbreaks,” continued Wiseman. “The Colorado State Fair is working in cooperation with 4-H and FFA on this important issue.”

The State 4-H Office has issued the following statements regarding 4-H premises registration:

“Why Colorado 4-H/FFA Premises Registration is the right thing to do:

· To protect animal agriculture from intentional or natural disease outbreaks, which could cripple animal agriculture and in turn adversely affect the well-being of our country.

· To protect the future of the youth livestock program as livestock exhibitions are one of the most likely methods of potential disease transmission.”

For more information on voluntary premises identification in Colorado, log onto www.COanimalid.org or call toll free 1-877-842-0102.

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