Good news for the Illinois State Fair and its exhibitors: Every Sale of Champions animal at the 2017 Illinois State Fair passed its drug tests.

“They all came back clean,” says Kevin Gordon, Illinois State Fair manager. “We’re thrilled to death that there was no positive drug test this year.”

Gordon reports that both the initial urine tests conducted immediately after the shows and the tissue tests conducted at harvest came back clean. The urine tests came back in early September, and the tissue test results were in by late August.

In the past, if an exhibitor’s animal tested positive for a nonapproved drug, the exhibitor received notification from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, typically before the Sale of Champions. This year, no exhibitor received that notification, nor were any notified that their animal had passed the tests.

“We have never notified an exhibitor that they have not violated the rules,” Gordon says. “No news is good news.”

Gordon adds that the department used the same tests and protocols in 2017 as it did in 2016. He allows that the urine test did take longer this year, attributing the change to the testing laboratory.

He believes IDOA and ISF have made steady progress since 2015, when two champion animals were disqualified due to nonapproved drug residues. In 2016, one junior exhibitor was falsely accused of using an approved drug, and another was disqualified for use of a Benadryl cream and banned from state fair exhibition for three years.

“We had two disqualifications in 2015, last year we had one, then this year the big goose egg,” Gordon says. “Obviously, we hope to continue this trend. It’s a testament to our dedicated exhibitors.”

Rule change
Gordon believes the change in rules for the 2017 state fair “absolutely” helped bring about fewer disqualifications.

“We went through the rules and talked to real professionals in the industry. Listing those 13 drugs as we did and tweaking the rules, I think that helped immensely,” he says.

In early 2017, IDOA convened a Livestock Working Group to examine the premium book rules and make recommendations. IDOA was criticized by members of the LWG for not taking very many of their suggestions, including a move to USDA industry-standard withdrawal times on medications. IDOA stuck with its zero-tolerance policy, requiring animals to be “free and clear” of any substances when they arrive on the fairgrounds, and to remain free and clear during their time at the fair.

However, one suggestion IDOA did adopt was a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs like clenbuterol and diethylstilbesterol, listing them in the premium book. If found in an animal, these drugs would result in a higher penalty for the exhibitor: a five-year ban for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second offense.

Looking ahead to 2018, Gordon says they’re still settling the dust on the 2017 fair season but will be meeting with staff and will “make any tweaks that might need to be taken care of.”