Chickens Are Back at Ulster County Fair

Great news for fowl lovers!

The 129th Ulster County fair opens on Tuesday and this year almost all fowl will be allowed entry.

Ulster County Fair General Manager Gary Newkirk told the Daily Freeman that the state ban on fowl from last year has been lifted for this year's fair.

Great news for 4-H kids who were disappointed in the ban last year. Newkirk said that “These 4-H kids worked all year on these projects and when they got the notice last year that they would not be able to be part of the fair it was kind of devastating to them.”

The state ban had included chickens, pigeons, turkey, pheasants, geese, and ducks. The ban was set after outbreaks of avian influenza in the Midwest.

Newkirk also said that the petting zoo will also return to the fair this year after a scheduling conflict prevented the small animals from making an appearance in 2015.

Gates for this years fair will open at 4 p.m. Tuesday and then at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

General admission tickets are $15 per person and free for senior citizens on Thursday.