HUGHESVILLE -- There weren't many people at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville when Newswatch 16 stopped by, but there were plenty of animals.
"Goat, sheep, donkeys, llama, camels," said Terry Beal.
Even Bubba the camel made it to the fair, but there were no birds to be found.
"Right now there is so-called maybe the bird flu and there is just a question about the health, so we just don't want to take the risk," said Beal.
The Department of Agriculture does not want to take a risk either. The poultry barn will stay empty because bird competitions at Pennsylvania state fairs have been suspended this year.
The state Department of Agriculture suspended bird competitions to help prevent the spread of avian influenza, which is better known as the bird flu.
"I feel really bad for my friends because I get the chance to show off my animals and they don't get to show off their chickens,” said Lindsey Newcomer.
"We'll have chicken as far as eating chicken, but no birds that you can come in and see," said Karen Yaw.
Karen Yaw the secretary at the Lycoming County Fair was busy helping vendors set up for opening day.
"We just like to, you know, have a safe environment for all of our animals as well as our people," said Yaw.
While there won't be any chickens this year, there will be some new attractions at the Lycoming County Fair including a zip line.
"We take them to the top, introduce them to what's going on, and then we open the gates and say, '1,2,3 fly!' And the next thing you know they zoom down the lines,” said Deborah Moblay.
"We are filled to our capacity this year as far as vendors, so it's looking really good this year for our fair,” said Yaw.
The Lycoming County Fair begins Thursday and continues until Saturday July 25 at the fairgrounds in Hughesville.
