VERMILION COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The Vermilion County Fair is going on with all of its planned events, but it came close to missing one key attraction. This fan-favorite event happened on Friday morning.
It wasn’t due to a lack of nerve: The fate of the fair’s poultry show remained uncertain until a few weeks ago because of a widespread bird flu. When the go-ahead was finally given, the participants were thrilled.
“We had some great birds here today, we had some great fowl,” said Nikki Duffy with the Vermilion County Fair.
People flocked from all over Vermilion County to show off their poultry. The event nearly didn’t happen because of the bird flu outbreak.
“Will it happen, won’t it happen?” Duffy said. “And then finally, the state lifted the ban.”
A ban that was in mandated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture from February to early June.
“Luckily the numbers have gone down enough, and they lifted the ban and let us show this summer,” Duffy said.
The show captures the attention of adults and children.
“I have Rhode Island Reds, I have Silkie Bantams, and various other kinds,” mentioned contestant Casey-Jo Morgan. “[A] farm store chicken named Whitney, she’s right behind me.”
All the contestants are hoping for one thing, and with a little bit of luck and a good chicken, you might just get it.
“He’s still here this year, and he won grand champion last year too, and then we had this year,” said contestant Andrew McMahon.
Duffy said the interest from kids in the event is a breath of fresh air in our current time.
“Kids still want to be exhibiting livestock, because that has been a struggle lately as small, family farms are kind of dwindling,” she said.
And seeing winners smile makes it all worth it.
“It’s the best feeling, that’s why I’m here,” Duffy said. “I do it for the kids. I love seeing them win, and I love to teach them things that I know.”
Other festivities taking place this weekend include the Funnel Cake 5k Saturday morning, the cornhole tournament and a demolition derby.
