By Catalina Cowen and Kenzie Osburn
On Jan. 7, Ukiah High School’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) received shocking news: California’s State Veterinarian, Dr. Annette Jones, announced a statewide ban on poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs to combat the growing spread of avian influenza.
According to Dr. Jones, “The cooperation of cow and bird owners is critical in controlling this disease; when exposed cows and birds are not moved and commingled, disease spread can be prevented.”
Since August 2024, over 700 dairy herds and 60 poultry flocks in California have been hit by avian influenza, impacting more than 15 million birds, with new cases still emerging, according to the Department of Food and Agriculture.
So far, bird flu has claimed just one life in the U.S, an elderly man in Louisiana. Closer to home, a Bay Area child became the nation’s first pediatric case in November 2024, experiencing only mild symptoms like fever and pink eye.
UHS News spoke with Wildcat Nation agriculture teacher Amanda Potter about how the avian flu outbreak will impact Ukiah FFA. Potter expects a surge in rabbit showings, as students who usually exhibit poultry look to “stay with small animals.”
She also noted a potential shift toward showing sheep, though this presents a challenge — Ukiah FFA currently has only three breeding lambs to supply for market projects.
Skylar Goldenghost, a 2024 Ukiah High alum who has been raising chickens for 14 years, shared her thoughts on the ban. She had planned to show her birds at the Redwood Empire Fair one last time but couldn’t due to the restrictions. While “disappointed,” Goldenghost understands the ban is about protecting the birds, which she says is what matters most.
“It’s tough,” she told UHS News, “especially if you’ve already bought birds for the year.” Goldenghost revealed she’d ordered hers just a week before the ban was announced.
Eleventh-grader Madilynn Sanford, who has raised chickens through Ukiah High’s FFA program, described the statewide ban on poultry shows as “very misfortunate.”
Sanford plans to pivot to showing a lamb this year but acknowledges the challenges. “Showing and raising a lamb is a lot more work,” she said since she already had everything she needed for chickens. She also pointed out the “huge price change,” especially after spending significant money on her chickens beforehand.
Even though she’s disappointed, Sanford remains positive about the shift. “It will be a fun opportunity with learning how to work with a new animal,” she shared.
At the 2024 Redwood Empire Fair, over 40 market poultry went to auction, generating an average of $1,553.85 sale price for chicken meat pens and an average of $1,944.44 sale price for turkeys supporting local youth projects. The loss of this income is a devastating blow.
Eleventh-grader McKaylie Young would have participated in the poultry event at the Redwood Empire Fair. She knows there are other animals to exhibit, but she told UHS News, “I really wanted to show chickens and I’m really sad.”
Catalina Cowen is a freshman in the Ukiah High school journalism class. She loves baking and hanging out with friends. She joined journalism because she likes writing about things that happen in the town around her. Catalina was born in Ukiah, California which is a big reason why she wanted to write about the city she is from. She looks forward to writing for the Ukiah High School Journalism class in her future years in High school.
Kenzie Osburn is a senior at Ukiah High and a part of the journalism class. She has lived in Potter Valley her whole life. She is the Potter Valley 4-H President and Ukiah FFA President. She shows livestock all over the country including rabbits and pigs. She likes to ride horses.
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