This project will develop and hold a new series of workshops called “Healthy Fairs.” The goal of these workshops is to bring together county fair employees, petting zoo operators, public health agencies, animal health agencies, and the University of Minnesota to begin to establish relationships built on trust and respect.

By involving stakeholders from human health, animal health, and environmental health we are taking a One Health approach to address these issues. These workshops will be held regionally in out-state locations on an annual basis and will occur prior to the beginning of fair season. They will be half-day workshops that combine lecture, small group discussion, and large group discussion. Issues regarding how to operate animal venues in a safe and healthy manner will be discussed. Ideas for low cost interventions will be discussed with the hope that fairs and petting zoos will implement them.

These workshops are important for agriculture in the Upper Midwest because fairs and petting zoos are often the only opportunity agricultural workers have to interact with the average consumer. We want to help the agriculture community ensure these interactions are positive by keeping everyone healthy and safe. Feedback will be solicited from attendees at the end of each workshop and after their fair season has ended. A tiered goal system will be implemented with each successive year of the workshops aiming for longer term, higher cost interventions.

LINKS:

• MN Department of Health Healthy Fairs Website
• UMASH Healthy Fairs Workshops
• UMASH Project: Surveillance for Zoonotic Diseases in Agricultural Workers in Minnesota
• UMASH Agritourism Resources
• UMASH Resource Database

PROJECT FINAL REPORT