E. coli prevention takes prominence.

Byline: Randi Bjornstad The Register-Guard

Sheep and goats will be the guinea pigs as large animals return to the Lane County Fairgrounds today for the first time since last summer's severe outbreak of E. coli bacteria after the county fair.

Fair officials said Thursday that they've tackled the problem head-on and that the popular Black Sheep Gathering will inaugurate a new system for helping visitors to the fairgrounds avoid contamination from animal-borne illnesses.

"We know this is very critical, very important," said Warren Wong, managing director of the fairgrounds complex. "We know there's no way to absolutely eliminate bacteria such as E. coli from events that include large animals, especially cattle and sheep. But we're emphasizing personal hygiene and public education so people who choose to attend can maximize their safety."

Last year's E. coli outbreak affected 82 people - most of them children under 6 years old - and sent 12 to the hospital with serious kidney disorders. Most have since recovered.

A Seattle-based law firm filed suit against the county and the Fair Board earlier this month on behalf of two dozen families affected by the illness.

The method by which people came into contact with the bacteria has not been established, although investigators traced it to a barn that had housed sheep and goats and suspect it may have become airborne. E. coli occurs naturally in many cud-chewing animals and can be contracted by people through contact with their feces.

To make visitors as safe as possible from contracting the illness, freestanding portable hand-washing stations have been set up at every entrance to the barns that will hold about 600 sheep and goats at this weekend's Black Sheep Gathering, Wong said.

In addition, large sandwich boards at the entrances exhort people to wash hands after touching animals and before eating. They urge parents to make sure children don't put their hands in their mouths after touching animals, animal pens, the floor or the bottom of their shoes if they have walked through animal areas.

Infants' pacifiers should be put away while in the barns, and no food or drink will be permitted in the animal areas, the warnings say.

For further protection, the concession stand that serves the gathering has been moved completely out of the building and housed in a tent in the parking lot, Wong said.

Inside the animal areas, fairgrounds staff members have posted huge placards - at least six per large showroom - further reminding people of the importance of avoiding contact with possibly contaminated animals and not eating or drinking anything in the barns.

Organizers of the three-day Black Sheep Gathering also have tacked up hundreds of neon-green notices that read, "For your safety, please do not touch animals or animal pens."

Leslie Hildreth, a longtime organizer of the event, said being the first large-animal show at the fairgrounds since the E. coli incident "has been a huge challenge."

"We've gone to a zillion meetings with the Fair Board since March to make sure the gathering will be as safe and enjoyable as possible," Hildreth said. "The fairgrounds (staff) has cleaned and disinfected everything thoroughly, and we're also doing everything we can to make sure that this will be educational, fun, wonderful and safe."

At the same time, she admits being a little nervous about being the first group back at the fairgrounds with animals associated with E. coli.

It's not a lack of participants that worries Hildreth - the gathering attracts wool enthusiasts from all over the western United States and several foreign countries and has a long waiting list of people wanting to attend - but rather the number of local visitors, which typically runs into the thousands.

"It has crossed many people's minds that attendance might be down, but we hope not," she said.

Suzanne St. Cyr, who lives just a few doors away from the fairgrounds, brought her 3-year-old daughter, Liva, and the family dog, Celia, to watch the arrival of the sheep and goats at the fairgrounds Thursday afternoon.

"I wouldn't hesitate to come," St. Cyr said. "I do think the hand-washing is a good idea, and there are lots of signs to remind people. I think we will come."

AVOIDING E. COLI

AT THE FAIRGROUNDS

Lane County fairgrounds officials have made changes to reduce the risk of E. coli contamination.

Food-drink: Prohibited in barns

Hand washing: Portable hand-washing stations provided at all public exits from barns

Signs: Large warnings posted in and outside animal exhibit areas

Animal bedding: Bedding for large animals changed when public not present; bedding for small animals cleaned of feces, then re-covered with a thick layer of fresh straw

Disinfectant: Animal areas and pens disinfected with Mint-O-Dis before and during events as needed

BLACK SHEEP GATHERING

Today: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Trade show, sheep show, wool and fiber arts judging, "sheep to shawl" competition

Saturday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Wool and Shetland fleece judging, sheep show, wool sale, fiber arts display, trade show, Best Sheep in Show award

Sunday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Angora goat show, wool sale, trade show, fiber arts display

All days: Free demonstrations, talks and group spinning

Information: 484-1011 or www.blacksheepgathering.org

CAPTION(S):

Humphrey, a Shetland sheep, enjoys a short moment of freedom before owner Tom Deshler (right) and Wallace Rutledge subdue him in the Lane County Fairgrounds parking lot. Both Rutledge and Deshler are showing sheep at the Black Sheep Gathering, which continues today through Sunday. Kevin Clark / The Register-Guard Jim Tipple of Bend moves one of his sheep at the fairgrounds. There are more signs and wash stations at this year's event.