In California, the state veterinarian banned rooster exhibits to restrict the unfold of hen flu. That left county festivals throughout the state devoid of chickens — and their 7-year-old 4H caretakers despondent.
JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
With fall hen migration underway, scientists are already seeing a brand new wave of hen flu outbreaks. Greater than 3.5 million poultry have died within the final 30 days. That is in response to the USDA. In California, state officers have been taking steps to mitigate the unfold of an infection all yr. That looks like a very good factor, however as April Dembosky of member station KQED in San Francisco experiences, it has one group of children feeling crestfallen – the 4H membership.
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UNIDENTIFIED FAIR WORKER #1: All proper, we’re prepared, and right here comes…
APRIL DEMBOSKY, BYLINE: County festivals roll out nearly each month throughout California. Mother and father and children swarm this one in September.
UNIDENTIFIED FAIR WORKER #2: That is the place to be – the Santa Cruz County Honest.
DEMBOSKY: They eat cotton sweet and corn canines. They go to the pigs.
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DEMBOSKY: They pet the sheep.
(SOUNDBITE OF SHEEP BLEATING)
DEMBOSKY: They speak again to the cows.
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UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Imitating cows mooing).
DEMBOSKY: However over within the poultry barn, not a cluck to be heard. Children sit on hay bales carrying their white 4H uniforms and inexperienced ties. 4H golf equipment are recognized for his or her youth animal husbandry applications, and that is often their Tremendous Bowl, the place they get to point out off the abilities they have been honing all yr. However this time, they left their chickens at residence.
HAYLEY MACIEL: As a result of the hen flu goes round.
CLAYTON BETTENCOURT: Yeah, I do know. It is ‘reason behind the hen flu.
CALEB PEREZ: And so they don’t desire all people’s chickens to get sick.
DEMBOSKY: Hayley Maciel (ph), Clayton Bettencourt (ph) and Caleb Perez (ph) are the youngest contributors on this yr’s rooster showmanship contest. They line up on the stage in entrance of the choose, every holding a stuffed toy rooster.
DONALD BARGER: Is it simpler to carry these than your ones at residence?
HAYLEY: No.
BARGER: No, in no way (laughter).
HAYLEY: That was so onerous. You’d suppose it will be simpler, however no, it is really more durable ‘trigger their legs are thus far aside.
DEMBOSKY: The children take turns caging their pretend birds, ensuring they put the top in first so they do not damage their wings. Then they reply quiz questions from choose Donald Barger, like what sort of comb does an Previous English Bantam hen have?
BARGER: A spherical of applause for these younger exhibitors.
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DEMBOSKY: Chickens are the 4H gateway animal. Children aren’t allowed to compete with pigs or goats till they’re 9, after they be taught the fundamentals with poultry. Seven-year-old Clayton watched his rooster hatch from its shell.
CLAYTON: I’ve proven her all my life. Her title is Spark (ph).
DEMBOSKY: He says the honest simply is not the identical with out her.
CLAYTON: She would keep on my shoulder. She would eat my corn canine and my beans.
DEMBOSKY: Then she’d go to sleep in his lap.
CLAYTON: She’s really fairly enjoyable. In case you had her, you’d have a very good time together with her ‘trigger she’s so candy.
DEMBOSKY: California’s state veterinarian banned all reside rooster exhibits, beginning final January. The aim is to keep away from bringing poultry collectively in a spot the place illness might unfold. However some folks suppose the commerce off to children’ training is not price it.
PAMELA FLANDERS: They’re like, what? No birds?
DEMBOSKY: Pamela Flanders runs the poultry barn on the honest. Usually, the 4H children would sit right here all day whereas fairgoers pet every rooster.
FLANDERS: And the folks simply go from child to child to child, you already know, and I believe it matures them ‘trigger they’re having to subject questions from all various kinds of folks on all various kinds of topics associated to birds.
DEMBOSKY: She says that is a studying alternative that you just can not replicate with a stuffed toy. Flanders hopes state officers will raise the ban subsequent yr, however veterinarians say that is unlikely. So children should modify. For Clayton Bettencourt, his first place win was bittersweet.
Congratulations. How do you’re feeling?
CLAYTON: Good. And I nonetheless really feel dangerous, like, ‘trigger there is not any chickens.
DEMBOSKY: With hen flu this widespread, veterinarians say stuffed chickens often is the approach of the 4H future. For NPR Information, I am April Dembosky on the Santa Cruz County Honest.
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