There will be plenty of mooing and oinking at this year’s county fair, but no clucking.

Nearly 30 Lawrence County 4-Hers picked up his or her baby chicks two weeks ago, only to find this week their feathered friends won’t be allowed at the fairgrounds.

And that’s not just in Lawrence County. On Tuesday the Ohio Department of Agriculture put a ban on all poultry shows across the state, including fairs and swap meets, in an effort to keep avian flu out of Ohio.

While this is likely to disappoint many people, especially the children who work so hard each year to take their animals to market, it was the right call by the department of agriculture.

Although the flu strain hasn’t been reported in Ohio yet, it has been reported in surrounding states and has the potential to wipe out entire flocks.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, almost 45 million birds have died or been killed to prevent the spread of the disease.

Other states are also following suit on banning poultry shows, including West Virginia, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

An avian flu outbreak in Ohio could be devastating to the state’s economy, as Ohio was counted as the country’s second largest producer of eggs last year.

Banning poultry shows is the right move at this time and while Lawrence County’s 4-Hers might not be able to bring their chickens to market, they will still be able to participate by showing photos of their progress and they can still learn great lessons in dedication and hard work.