Wes McKinley

- Friday, February 8, 2008 11:03 AM MST DENVER - A Colorado legislator has introduced legislation aimed at ending the controversial argument about State Fair entry requirements once and for all. State Representative Wes McKinley (D-64) this month introduced HB-08-1129, legislation which "Prohibits the board of commissioners and the manager of the Colorado State Fair authority from promulgating a rule, or enforcing a policy or practice that requires an exhibitor showing an animal at the Colorado State Fair and Industrial Exposition to participate in the National Animal Identification Program." McKinley says his bill "Keeps the State Fair Board from promoting a federal agenda," adding the legislation also aims to protect the rights of citizens from what he is calling government interference. "We're in favor of McKinley's bill," Rocky Mountain Farmers Union president, Kent Peppler tells the Ag Journal this week. "There's too many things that are unknown about this program and we're working very closely with (Colorado's ag commissioner John Stulp) to try and seek some type of resolution on it." Peppler agrees with McKinley assessment regarding the State Fair premise i.d. issue, as being an inner-family fight that's putting Colorado's 4H and FFA kids in the middle. "Representative McKin-ley's legislation would prohibit the Fair Board from requiring mandatory premises registration, one part of the National Animal Identifica-tion System," notes Chris Wiseman, general manager of the Colorado State Fair. "We oppose the bill because the Colorado Depart-ment of Agriculture believes strongly in the importance of animal disease prevention and control. And premise registration is an important component to both," Wiseman says. The legislation was recently heard by members of Colorado's House Agricul-ture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee. Mc-Kinley serves as a member of the committee, where the bill passed with a vote of - 8-4. Since last year, the Board of Commissioners for the Colorado State Fair has required that participants in animal showings during the event be registered in the Livestock Premise Identifica-tion system, which is part of the National Animal Iden-tification System (NAIS.) The United States Depart-ment of Agriculture says the intent of the NAIS program, which so far has remained free and voluntary, is to quickly establish and contain points of animal disease outbreaks before they spread. The system is based on the registration of all livestock and where they are kept, held and transported to and from. However, many producers have argued that such a program is far too intrusive into their lives and their operations, and further argue that such mandates apply undue cost and man-hours, especially hurting smaller, independent and family operations. However, the board's decision has come under fire since being enforced last year. "There are a lot of my constituents who just bristle at the thought of having to register themselves and their operation with the federal government," says Colorado State Senator Greg Brophy, the senatorial sponsor of McKinley's legislation. "Animal exhibitions, such as fairs, rodeos and shows, are a potential disease amplification point," stresses Wiseman. "The State Fair draws many livestock species, as well as hobby animals, such as birds, from all over the state. Many of these animals then return to their location of origin, or are purchased and are taken elsewhere." "In the event that the animal came in contact with another diseased animal, prompt notification would be necessary to contain a larger disease outbreak," Wiseman says, defending the State Fair Board's position on required registration. "The State Fair's mission includes education and demonstration projects. Animal disease prevention and control is a critical component of 4-H and FFA livestock projects," continues Wiseman. "It's our opinion that learning about the role that premise registration can play in modern livestock production is important." Peppler says at the conclusion of last year's Colorado State Fair run, the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union office in Greenwood Village, was inundated with phone calls regarding the policy. "We have some really strong feelings within our organization of where we need to be on this issue," says Peppler, about the members of his organization opposing the requirement. "There was a slight decrease in show entries," states Wiseman, regarding last year's State Fair animal showing entries. "However, only three exhibitors stated their reason for non-participation was due to the requirement." Wiseman says there were 4,383 entries during the 2007 run of the Colorado State Fair, down from 4,456 in 2006. However, he also notes that there were slight decreases in showings at county fairs across the state during the 2007 season, as well. "The State Fair Board is promoting the Colorado Department of Agriculture's (CDA) agenda," states Wiseman. "That is, the Fair Board is adopting the latest tool available to prevent and manage communicable animal diseases. The CDA strongly supports premise identification, and we are pleased that the Fair Board shares our commitment to this important segment of our agricultural community." However, John Heller, the Colorado Animal Identifica-tion Coordinator with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, told the Ag Journal during an interview last summer that his department applied no pressure to the State Fair or its board to adopt or mandate such policies. "The requirement has been put out by 4-H and FFA, and those are private organizations, essentially," Heller stated. "The Colorado State Fair, even though it's administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, has a State Fair Board that makes decisions on rules and regulations. "In both cases, despite what a considerable amount of people want to insinuate and suggest, we have not strong-armed, or forced, or even asked these groups to make that decision. "They feel and understand the program and see its value in terms of helping out with animal health," Heller says. "And they feel that their participants in the organization and exhibitions need to comply with a certain rule and standard," Heller told us last summer. Indiana requires such registration at its State Fair, as well as at all county fairs. The only other states to require premise identification registration for state fair entries are Wisconsin and Minnesota. McKinley's legislation, having successfully moved out of committee, now begins its journey through the floors of the General Assembly. "We intend to make the legislature very familiar with our position on premise registration as an important tool to protect the Colorado livestock industry," Wiseman states. "Our belief is that with the knowledge of the benefits of premise registration, the legislature will let the authorities of the Fair Board remain intact, and permit it to require premise registration as it deems appropriate." Wiseman says last year's attendance during the run of the Colorado State Fair, located in Pueblo, totaled 485,035.