While the Boulder County Fair’s 4-H shows continue to focus on local children and animals, veterinarians are on hand to ensure a safe experience.

Throughout the week, veterinarians volunteered to help at the fair’s 4-H exhibits, examining participating animals. This year, five veterinarians donated their time and expertise to the fair’s numerous 4-H shows for free.

On Friday, volunteer veterinarian Kate Byrne came to the 4-H cat show to make sure about a dozen cats were healthy enough to participate. Byrne performed a visual inspection of the animals to look for signs of illness.

“When you bring a lot of animals from different parts of the county or the state together in one place, you don’t want an infectious disease breaking out and spreading in their homes,” Byrne said. “That’s really important.”

If one of the animals is sneezing or seems lethargic, Byrne can alert the owner before the show begins. However, Byrne said the 4-H kids take such good care of their animals that healthy pets are the norm.

“In 4-H, they learn so much about caring for their pets and work very closely with their veterinarians,” Byrne said of the children. “They know so much about health care and what it takes to raise a healthy rabbit, guinea pig or cat.”

Byrne, who lives in Lakewood, has been a veterinarian for 38 years, working primarily with dogs and cats. This is Byrne’s first time volunteering as a veterinarian for a county fair. She said she heard the Boulder County Fair was looking for volunteers through the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association and decided to help out.

“I’ve done inspections on a more formal basis,” said Byrne. “This is a lot more fun.”

Byrne also inspected guinea pigs and rabbits at 4-H shows on Sunday. She said her two trips from Lakewood to the fair were worthwhile.

“You get as much back as you give, so it’s just wonderful to be here and interact with everyone,” Byrne said.

Steve Benscheidt, a veterinarian from Longmont, also volunteered to examine poultry, swine and cattle at this year’s fair. Unlike Byrne, Benscheidt has a long association with the Boulder County Fair; he began offering his services as a fair veterinarian in the 1980s.

“When you donate your time to help others, it’s purely for personal satisfaction,” Benscheidt said. “Nobody gets customers or sales or anything like that from this ordeal.”

Benscheidt said that through his volunteer work, he enjoys getting to know the young 4-H members and helping with the 4-H process.

“It’s just part of what we give back to the community,” he said.

Originally published: August 9, 2024 at 3:53 pm