I remember being in 4-H and every year looking forward to the county fair. For me and the area I grew up in, this was my opportunity to show my not-so-ag-centered community a glimpse into the agriculture world.

However, over in Dubuque, livestock exhibits are closed off from the public following a possible sick pig.

According to KCRG, the Dubuque County Fair veterinarian was called to the livestock barns on Wednesday to check on one of the pigs. The vet then saw illness symptoms and called the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to help in the situation.

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Marybeth Foster, regional director of Iowa State Extension and Outreach told the Telegraph Herald;

We had a pig that was having health concerns. Out of an abundance of caution, we decided that the public would be kept out of the (livestock) barns and that animals would be kept in the barns – except to be taken out to be watered or fed. Basically, we aren’t letting the public walk through the barns.

The officials ran tests and sent samples from the pig to the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Ames.

The sick pig has been removed from the fairgrounds. As an extra precaution, the livestock barns at the fair have been closed to the general public. This is to help keep any possible illness from spreading between the barns.

The exhibitors are able to go into the barns to care for the animals.

The swine show is still going to be held today at 9 a.m. as scheduled. Only exhibitors and their family members are able to attend the show.

The Dubuque County Fair kicked off on Tuesday and will run through Sunday.

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