Kansas state university's national agricultural biosecurity center (NABC) will develop tabletop exercises and functional workbooks that extension professionals, local emergency managers, and subject…

Kansas State University's National Agricultural Biosecurity Center will develop tabletop exercises and functional workbooks designed to enhance biosecurity preparedness among extension professionals, local emergency managers, and subject matter experts involved in planning agricultural fairs and livestock exhibitions. The deliverables will include realistic, region-specific scenario-based exercises that simulate animal disease outbreak response and a comprehensive handbook addressing disease prevention, biosecurity protocols, and critical response activities. The project will also conduct regional tabletop exercises in partnership with the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) across Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri to identify planning gaps, provide guidance resources, and prepare fair and exhibition organizers for potential animal disease events. This cooperative agreement, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025), was awarded on October 1, 2025, with a total obligation of $211,248 and a completion date of September 30, 2027.

The project addresses a critical gap in agricultural preparedness by recognizing that livestock fairs and expositions—important economic and cultural features of rural communities—present significant risks for disease transmission. By equipping stakeholders with practical planning tools and hands-on exercises, the award strengthens animal disease preparedness infrastructure, protects food supply security, and safeguards rural economic opportunities and farmer livelihoods.

Kansas state university's national agricultural biosecurity center (NABC) will develop tabletop exercises and functional workbooks that extension professionals, local emergency managers, and subject matter experts can use when planning fairs or animal exhibitions involving livestock. Fairs and livestock expos are an important feature of U.S. Rural communities, but they can also increase the risk of spreading animal diseases. The tabletop exercise will bring together participants that will be included in the planning of a fair or livestock expo and walk them through a scenario that will be realistic to their region or based on a past animal disease that has occurred there. Through the exercise and handbook, participants will enhance their knowledge of biosecurity, disease prevention, and the critical activities that may need to be conducted if an animal disease outbreak occurs at a fair or expo. NABC will also work with extension disaster education network (EDEN) representatives from iowa, kansas, nebraska, and missouri to conduct additional regional tabletop exercises with other extension professionals, local emergency managers, and subject matter experts. The exercise and functional workbook will provide the opportunity to identify gaps in planning, offer resources and guidance, and what to expect if fair or animal exhibition organizers and participants need to respond to an animal disease event. Animal disease preparedness projects like this are a valuable investment that strengthens our food supply, ensures farmers' livelihoods, and protects economic opportunities for rural communities.