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WADENA, Minn. 鈥� The Wadena County Fair kicked off on Wednesday, June 19, and Kami Hoemberg was as busy as ever trying to get her show animals checked in and ready for a few days of work and play.

She鈥檚 an expert at showing livestock at age 15 because she鈥檚 been doing this since she was 4. But a bit of a wrench was thrown into the mix this year.

Kami found out on June 13 that in order to show her prized milk cow, Heather, she鈥檇 have to quickly find a vet, who would have to take a milk test, deliver it to a lab and get a negative H5N1 test back before she could trailer her cow into the fairgrounds six busy days later.

The in an effort to limit the spread of the H5N1 virus among dairy cows and was effective June 18. Per the requirement, all lactating (currently producing milk) dairy cows must have both a negative H5N1 test result and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection to attend any exhibition in Minnesota. The virus has been reported in 102 dairy herds across 12 states since late March, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Three dairy farm workers have also contracted the virus.

鈥淲hile H5N1 influenza in dairy cases are still being studied across the country, initial insights show milk and the udders are a hotspot for influenza virus on infected cows, which makes showing lactating dairy at events a higher risk,鈥� said Senior Veterinarian of Cattle Programs Dr. Katie Cornille in a news release. 鈥淩equiring a negative test before an exhibition reduces that risk.鈥�

University of Minnesota Extension educator for Wadena County Kim Dailey works with the 4-H families closely, and as soon as she was notified of the new requirement she began making calls to the nine dairy families planning to show at the fair the following week. Wadena County is one of just three counties in the state having their fairs the same week that the new requirement went into effect. Others include Morrison and Norman counties.

Kami鈥檚 cow, Heather, comes from Amy and Ryan Roller鈥檚 farm, Red Root Holsteins, near Hewitt, Minnesota. Kami is their niece. The Rollers considered having their kids show a milk cow, but with the tight turnaround for testing, they opted out this year.

Brittani Oyster, Bertha-Hewitt 歪歪漫画 ag teacher and a mother of 4-H youths, said their family wasn鈥檛 planning on bringing a milk cow to show this year either. They made that decision prior to new requirements coming into place. The Oyster family recently returned from the 2024 Minnesota State Holstein Show June 11-15 at the Stearns County Fairgrounds in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. Oyster noted a significant decrease in dairy showings this year. She attributes that to the concerns over the H5N1 virus.

鈥淭here were definitely a lot of people that did not bring their cows for that fear,鈥� Oyster said.

Dailey was hopeful that all families would be able to get testing done in time for showing but also had her concerns knowing how hard the youth had prepared for the fair. Normally, animals are to be checked in on Wednesday, but exhibitors were given a variance that as long as they had a negative test prior to 9 a.m. on Friday, they could still get in.

鈥淥ur only issue this week is going to be the timing. We just have such a quick turnaround,鈥� Dailey said. Dailey was told it takes 12-36 hours to get test results back. "I'm optimistic, that's all I can be."

Hoemberg said one of the big concerns for her when she heard about the requirement was making sure they could get a veterinarian to visit quickly. They had one over the next morning to administer the test. Confirmation of a negative test didn't come until Wednesday morning after Cami had done all her trimming and prep work to make sure Heather was ready for showing.

Michael Johnson / Agweek

The negative test was expected, yet a relief, as Kami had to work quickly to get all her animals in a row. She鈥檒l be at center stage at 9 a.m. Friday for the dairy show, showing Heather for the third time, and showing livestock for the 11th year in a row.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health on June 6. It was the first positive test in Minnesota. The Board asks dairy farmers to closely monitor their herd and contact their veterinarian immediately if cows appear sick. The Board reports any new detections and .