Teachers
and students invited to fabricate a funky chicken!
Turlock—The
poultry barns will be noticeably empty at this
year’s Stanislaus County Fair year.
However, plenty of funky chickens will flock to
the fair that are guaranteed to be free of Exotic
Newcastle Disease!
In
conjunction with recommendations by the Division of
Fairs and Expositions, a division of the California
Department of Food and Agriculture, the Stanislaus
County Fair Board voted in January to suspend the
fair’s annual poultry show.
The proactive decision was in response to a
statewide plan to prevent the spread of the Exotic
Newcastle Disease a disease which has posed a threat
to the poultry industry.
“But because the Stanislaus County Fair knows
that the fair is incomplete without our fine feathered
friends, we have opted to exhibit fabricated hens and
roosters through the fair’s annual Schools
Involvement Project,” shared Mary Hemminger, deputy
manager of the Stanislaus County Fair.
“Poultry Creations” is the theme of this
year’s free educational program for preschool
through sixth grade classes.
“The program provides opportunities for
students to participate in an agriculture literacy
program while at the same time having fun with their
creative sides,” said Hemminger.
-more-
Complimentary
program kits are now available and include an
educational video, lesson plans, and activities for
the classroom and a hen and rooster base for
fabricating the feathered friends.
The program, including the kits, is
underwritten by American Ag Credit, the School
Involvement Project sponsor.
The
objective of the program is to teach students about
the poultry industry and its importance to our lives.
Classes participating in the program will gain
knowledge about poultry and some classes will earn
more than chicken scratch.
The top
classes will win cash prizes for their fabricated
feathered friends. The judges will score the
fabricated hens and roosters in three categories:
superior, good and average. A “best in division”
award is presented at each grade level with two or
more entries.
The
fabricated hens and roosters will be on display at the
Stanislaus County Fair, which opens July 25 for a
10-day run.
Teachers
interested in registering for the free program or
would like more information are invited to call the
Stanislaus County Fair office at (209) 668-1333. The
deadline to register for the program is Thursday, July
3 by 5 pm. Early registration is encouraged since kits
are limited and only available on a first come, first
serve basis.
The
Stanislaus County Fair is now in its 92nd year.
The theme of this year’s fair is “The Place
to be in 2003: Saluting the 30th
Anniversary of American Graffiti.”
Last
year, more than 226,000 family members enjoyed the
fair —the largest attendance in the past decade.
In the fall of 2002, Modesto Bee readers voted
the Stanislaus County Fair their “Favorite
All-Around Event” in the Bee’s Readers’ Choice
Awards!
The
mission of the Stanislaus County Fair is to provide a
family and community oriented experience promoting
agriculture, education, entertainment and technology.
-end-
Electronic photo available. E-mail requests to
PRConsultingPennie@charter.net
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