Sandhusker
Well-known member
By Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News
August 30, 2007
It was the kind of feel-good news expected from the Colorado State Fair - the biggest junior livestock sale ever, with $412,950 in purchases and a $50,000 grand champion steer.
But even as the big dollars were rolling in this week, dust was kicking up over the disqualification of two youngsters caught up in a battle over a contentious program aimed at getting farmers and ranchers to register their animals with the federal government.
Fair administrators concluded that the contestants did not properly register their animals.
"We have rules and policies here at the fair that we have to follow," said Chris Wiseman, the fair's general manager. "It's unfortunate that it led to the disqualification of two young people."
On the other side of the controversy stood Cathy Calderwood, whose daughter was one of the kids kicked out of the sale.
"We don't believe we've done anything wrong," she said. "We've followed their rules."
The issue revolves around a program known as the National Animal Identification System. It is designed to stop the spread of disease and make it easier to respond to an animal health crisis.
Those who sign up register their "premises" - providing information on where the animal was raised and can be found - and the animals themselves.
The program has caused concerns about the government's motives, private property rights and liability.
"We see our records on our children and our livestock as private property, and we don't think it should be in any kind of database people can tap into," said Kimmi Lewis, of La Junta.
The program is voluntary as far as the federal government is concerned. But in January, the state fair board unanimously voted to require that 4-H and Future Farmers of America members provide a premises ID, a number that identifies where the animal was raised, as part of their entry.
"What's sad about the whole deal is they're pushing this whole premise ID thing on these kids, and it's not even mandatory for us adults," Lewis said.
In the past week, as fair officials checked entries, they found a dozen with problems. Ten of them were cleared up.
But according to Wiseman, two of them listed the premises ID of the La Plata County Fairgrounds, and that's not where the animals were raised.
So fair administrators made the decision to kick the competitors out and replace them with alternates.
The fair agreed to pay both ousted contestants the cost of the trip home and the amount of money the replacement animals brought in the sale.
Calderwood, who lives near Ignacio, said her 16-year-old daughter, Brandi, followed the letter of the law. She said the entry simply had to contain a "valid" premises ID number
Calderwood said she listed the premises ID for the La Plata County Fairground.
Calderwood said an agent with the Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension Office told her she could list the fairground's ID even though that wasn't where the animal was raised.
The extension office was closed Wednesday evening and no one could be reached for comment.
"It's a valid number," Calderwood said. "There wasn't anything we did that wasn't in good faith."
Calderwood said she and her daughter had been at the fair for several days when administrators told them Monday night, "You're disqualified and security is here to escort you off the property."
State Rep. Wes McKinley, D- Walsh, said there has been talk about legislation next year to guarantee 4-H and FFA members the right to show their animals without a premises ID. "That's heavy-handed bullying government against the kids," he said.
Tracking animals
What is the National Animal Identification System?
• A voluntary system that allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture to track animals.
• Participants register the "premises" where they raise animals and the animals themselves.
SUPPORTERS SAY:
• It's the best tool to prepare for the threat of an outbreak of disease or other animal health crisis.
• Farmers and ranchers who register will be notified quickly in the event of an outbreak or crisis.
• The system helps reassure consumers and trading partners that everything possible is being done to prevent the spread of disease.
OPPONENTS SAY:
• There is concern that the information in the registry may not remain confidential.
• Farmers and ranchers could face an increased exposure to liability if an ill animal is traced back to their property - even if that animal got sick somewhere else.
• Nobody has analyzed the costs and benefits of the program.
August 30, 2007
It was the kind of feel-good news expected from the Colorado State Fair - the biggest junior livestock sale ever, with $412,950 in purchases and a $50,000 grand champion steer.
But even as the big dollars were rolling in this week, dust was kicking up over the disqualification of two youngsters caught up in a battle over a contentious program aimed at getting farmers and ranchers to register their animals with the federal government.
Fair administrators concluded that the contestants did not properly register their animals.
"We have rules and policies here at the fair that we have to follow," said Chris Wiseman, the fair's general manager. "It's unfortunate that it led to the disqualification of two young people."
On the other side of the controversy stood Cathy Calderwood, whose daughter was one of the kids kicked out of the sale.
"We don't believe we've done anything wrong," she said. "We've followed their rules."
The issue revolves around a program known as the National Animal Identification System. It is designed to stop the spread of disease and make it easier to respond to an animal health crisis.
Those who sign up register their "premises" - providing information on where the animal was raised and can be found - and the animals themselves.
The program has caused concerns about the government's motives, private property rights and liability.
"We see our records on our children and our livestock as private property, and we don't think it should be in any kind of database people can tap into," said Kimmi Lewis, of La Junta.
The program is voluntary as far as the federal government is concerned. But in January, the state fair board unanimously voted to require that 4-H and Future Farmers of America members provide a premises ID, a number that identifies where the animal was raised, as part of their entry.
"What's sad about the whole deal is they're pushing this whole premise ID thing on these kids, and it's not even mandatory for us adults," Lewis said.
In the past week, as fair officials checked entries, they found a dozen with problems. Ten of them were cleared up.
But according to Wiseman, two of them listed the premises ID of the La Plata County Fairgrounds, and that's not where the animals were raised.
So fair administrators made the decision to kick the competitors out and replace them with alternates.
The fair agreed to pay both ousted contestants the cost of the trip home and the amount of money the replacement animals brought in the sale.
Calderwood, who lives near Ignacio, said her 16-year-old daughter, Brandi, followed the letter of the law. She said the entry simply had to contain a "valid" premises ID number
Calderwood said she listed the premises ID for the La Plata County Fairground.
Calderwood said an agent with the Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension Office told her she could list the fairground's ID even though that wasn't where the animal was raised.
The extension office was closed Wednesday evening and no one could be reached for comment.
"It's a valid number," Calderwood said. "There wasn't anything we did that wasn't in good faith."
Calderwood said she and her daughter had been at the fair for several days when administrators told them Monday night, "You're disqualified and security is here to escort you off the property."
State Rep. Wes McKinley, D- Walsh, said there has been talk about legislation next year to guarantee 4-H and FFA members the right to show their animals without a premises ID. "That's heavy-handed bullying government against the kids," he said.
Tracking animals
What is the National Animal Identification System?
• A voluntary system that allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture to track animals.
• Participants register the "premises" where they raise animals and the animals themselves.
SUPPORTERS SAY:
• It's the best tool to prepare for the threat of an outbreak of disease or other animal health crisis.
• Farmers and ranchers who register will be notified quickly in the event of an outbreak or crisis.
• The system helps reassure consumers and trading partners that everything possible is being done to prevent the spread of disease.
OPPONENTS SAY:
• There is concern that the information in the registry may not remain confidential.
• Farmers and ranchers could face an increased exposure to liability if an ill animal is traced back to their property - even if that animal got sick somewhere else.
• Nobody has analyzed the costs and benefits of the program.
