Kittitas County is currently in Phase 2 of Roadmap to Recovery and we are able to adapt our operations to the current restrictions. Please refer to the Roadmap to Recovery graphic to see what is available under Phase 2 and reach out to us with any questions. In addition, there is also new updates to the Agriculture Event recommendations and they are as followed:
Agricultural Events COVID-19 Requirements
Summary of February 26, 2021 change:
- Clarifies that guidance applies to food production and show/companion animals similarly for
purposes of this document.
- Updates capacity limits. Indoor events are capped to 25% capacity, up to 200 people,
whichever is fewer (this excludes staff). Outdoor events are capped at 200 people.
Summary of February 15, 2021 changes:
- Clarifies that food service is allowed for participants only and must comply with guidance for
restaurants.
Summary of February 1, 2021 changes:
- New Phase 1 and Phase 2 requirements detailed
- Safety and health requirements updated at end of the document
Included Here:
- For purposes of this guidance, an “agricultural event” includes livestock and horse
exhibitions/shows/sales/auctions, companion animal (dog, cats, rabbits, etc.) shows, or any
substantially similar event.
Not included here:
- Agritourism such as commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing
with tourism in order to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the
purposes of entertaining and/or educating the visitors and generating income for the farm,
ranch, or business owner.
Agricultural events are permitted to operate, provided all requirements in this document are met. Each
event must adopt a written procedure for operations at least as protective as the specific requirements
outlined below and complies with all employee safety and health requirements.
Event venues and staff must ensure strict adherence to all measures established by the Governor’s
guidance, the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention: General
Requirements https://lni.wa.gov/forms-publications/F414-164-000.pdf, and the Washington State
Department of Health Workplace and Employer Resources & Recommendations
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Coronavirus/Workplace (DOH).
General Event Requirements For Phase 1 and Phase 2:
1. All events must require participants to use cloth face coverings at a minimum.
2. Require all staff and any participant including exhibitors, sellers/auctioneers, buyers,
competitors, judges, and veterinarians, to stay home if they are sick.
3. Food service is allowed for participants only and must follow the guidance for restaurants.
4. Whenever possible, events should be held outdoors or in outdoor arenas with optimal
ventilation. Events held indoors are limited to 25% capacity or up to 200 participants at one time
(not including staff) whichever is less. Outdoor events capped at 200 people.
5. Reduce in person interaction and allow for social distancing on site.
o Increase distance and limit the duration of contact (no more than 15 minutes) between
exhibitors, visitors, judges, veterinarians, staff, and anyone else participating the event.
o Limit access to only necessary participants. Participants that are minors may be
accompanied by one adult. No spectators, vendors, guests or visitors.
o Limit the number of people and/or animals in a ring to ensure that at least 6 feet is kept
between the animal handler and other people including judges.
o Provide separate entry and exit points for participants going in and out of the show ring.
o Event staff may bring animals together to certify weight, to be sold (marketed/auctioned),
to be sorted by buyer, and be grouped to be transported to their destination, to the extent
practicable, to eliminate queuing.
o Limited exhibits may occur for livestock, poultry and rabbits intended for food without
handlers being present during judging. This is to ensure these animals are handled in a
timely manner to ensure proper animal care, well-being, and quality through to harvest.
o Limit the number of animals that can be exhibited by a single person (to be determined by
the local event organizer and facility offerings).
6. Schedule events in stages to avoid high densities of people. Consider the layout of the grounds
to account for human/ animal traffic patterns.
o Require pre-registration (if applicable).
o Schedule exhibit weigh-in/ drop-off/ move out times. Larger events may have to alternate
days so that drop-off and show can occur in one day.
o Stagger exhibit/show/sale/auction times.
o Use sign-up sheets with specific time assignments for use of common animal/ human
interaction areas (in- and out-gates, warm-up rings, grooming stations, wash racks, vet
check areas, exercise lots, and restrooms).
o Consider a “show-and-go” with animals stalled at a trailer or in a vehicle and leaving
immediately after the show if this will not compromise animal welfare (i.e. due to weather
conditions such as high temperature and humidity).
7. Encourage participants to observe strict biosecurity.
o Clean and disinfect any equipment from home before bringing them to the event and
again before they take them back home.
o Discourage the sharing of items/equipment that are difficult to disinfect between
participants.
o Clean and disinfect animal areas between shows or events.
Employee Safety and Health
An agricultural event employer, during any phase has a general obligation to keep a safe and healthy
facility in accordance with state and federal law and safety and health rules for a variety of workplace
hazards. In addition, they must comply with the following COVID-19 worksite-specific safety practices as
outlined in Governor Inslee’s “Safe Start – Stay Healthy" Proclamation 20-25 and in accordance with the
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries General Requirements and Prevention Ideas for
Workplaces and the Washington State Department of Health Workplace and Employer Resources &
Recommendations at https://www.doh.wa.gov/Coronavirus/workplace. All events are required to post
signage at the entrance to the event requiring participants to use cloth face coverings when inside the
event.