A crate of Cornish Cross chickens were auctioned off for charity prior to the start of the 4-H-FFA Livestock Auction at the Butler Farm Show.

The coronavirus pandemic may cancel the Big Butler Fair and the Butler Farm Show this summer.

Farmers and local agriculture officials, during a teleconference Friday morning, shared their concerns with Russell Redding, state Secretary of Agriculture, on many matters revolving around the coronavirus pandemic.

But most disappointing to county residents may be that the two beloved and longtime events could be scuttled because they constitute a large gathering.

William Thiele, who is on the Butler County Farm Bureau's board of directors and serves as the co-chairman of the government relations committee, said canceling July's county fair and August's farm show would have a devastating effect on farmers and their families.

“The farm show is a great way to get the word of agriculture out to the public,” Thiele said. “You can go see the animals and equipment and interact with the farmers one-on-one.”

This is an excerpt from a larger article that will appear in Sunday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.