Livestock Event Protests

With summer show season upon us, the Animal Agriculture Alliance is working to spread the word about proactive measures that event organizers and exhibitors can take to ensure that shows remain a positive and educational experience for participants and spectators alike. 

 

Within the past six months, animal rights activists have disrupted events ranging from the Pennsylvania Farm Show opening ceremony, political rallies and even hot dog eating contests over the holiday weekend. These extreme actions, combined with their targeting of youth programs like 4-H and FFA, should encourage all of us in animal agriculture to take some additional precautions to prepare for unexpected spectators at our summer events. Here's spokesperson Hannah Thompson: “The simplest thing is having a plan. Designate who your media spokespeople are, designate how to handle something like protesters showing up at your show and figure out what you are going to do in advance so if something does happen you can immediately activate that plan. Part of it is contacting your fair officials and local law enforcement and ask them what you need to do if you need to get them involved and who you can call if there is an issue or a disruption that comes up.”