Fair veterinarians keep watch over animals and people, too

It's not unusual for Lorain County fairgoers to see owners and handlers, both adults and teens, washing, brushing and preparing their animals for competition. What attendees probably will not see is the two men charged with the responsibility of ensuring the health of those animals — 1,500 to 2,000 of them, ranging from guinea pigs and chickens to horses and steer. Dr. Bill Spreng and Dr. Frank Krupka, who serve as co-veterinarians of the fair, are not only monitoring animals' physical health, but their mental health, too. When asked for an example of an animal whose mental health was a concern, they both gave the same example, despite being interviewed separately. They recalled that a steer, scheduled to be shown by a teenager, became severely distressed during arrival day before the fair officially opened. "He was not having it," Spreng said. Krupka described the arrival of so many animals at once as "chaotic." Spreng and Krupka determined the steer's behavior posed a risk of injury not only to itself but its handler and other animals. As a result, they asked the teen to take his steer off fair property. This is not done lightly as both men had children in 4-H who showed animals at the fair and fully understand the dedication and time commitment required over many months to ready an animal for the fair. However, Spreng said that his number one consideration as fair co-vet is safety — for animals and people. "And people come first," he said. Both veterinarians said incidents like the one with the steer are rare as are instances when they determine an animal is sick. In those cases, owners are told to contact their veterinarian, and sometimes the animal has to be taken home, especially if there is any risk of contagion. Spreng credits the design of new buildings with enhanced air flow capacity as key to greatly reducing potential for illness. Krupka noted they do not diagnose or treat fair animals, partly because they rarely are clients of either of their private practices, and also because they cannot risk showing favoritism or bias in their work. What they do do is during arrival days, they see every single animal entering the fairgrounds. As a matter of fact, it starts well before August. For example, Spreng could well be scoring horses while Krupka administers pullorum tests for fowl. Scoring a horse is a hands-on and visual assessment of a horse's overall physical condition based on six areas of their bodies where they deposit fat. The goal is to get a score of 5, as opposed to 1 (emaciated) or 9 (obese). Krupka handles pullorum testing on turkeys working closely with the Ohio Department of Agriculture's lab in Columbus. It's a blood screening method used to detect pullorum disease and fowl typhoid, serious bacterial infections caused by salmonella that are highly contagious. Krupka noted other fowl can be tested by civilians, but owners must present test result certificates ahead of arrival day. Once the fair opens, they are in the animal barns every day looking for any signs of disease, injury or distress. While both vets said there are signs all over the barns asking fairgoers to resist petting an animal, it's just too big a temptation for some to resist. Spreng said owners add their own signs saying, "Don't touch me, I bite" or "I kick." They are called in when an animal is, let's say, less than appreciative of a hand trying to pet them. Spreng chuckled as he described perhaps the least glamorous of the fair vet's job. "I collect urine samples from grand champion steer, goats and pigs." It's not easy either as excited family members often crowd around an animal for photos. "I'm there with a pee cup waiting to do my job," Spreng said. He's proud there has never been a failed drug test in the history of the Lorain County Fair. While the hours are long and the work at times stressful, both said they enjoy their roles. Spreng grew up on a dairy farm and knew when he graduated from the Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine that he wanted to practice on large animals. "I'm a farm-oriented vet, to begin with," he said. He married a girl who was born and raised in Wellington so they moved there to raise their daughter who is now 28 and the mother of two young children. He established Wellington Veterinary Clinic in 1989, only recently retiring from the practice. He said he frequently traveled to clients' homes and farms to care for large animals. He continues to serve as a "traveling vet" today. Spreng became the Lorain County Fair vet six years ago. In addition to his work as a veterinarian, he was elected a Wellington Township trustee in 2023 and serves on the Rural Lorain County Water Board and Greenwood Cemetery Board. He also supports his wife, Jody, (who has worked as a freelancer for The Chronicle-Telegram) who raises and shows goats, many of whom have earned ribbons. Her most recent win came earlier this month when her goat was selected Ohio State Fair 2026 Best in Show Senior Doe. Krupka, on the other hand, was raised in Cuyahoga County's eastern suburbs and attended Benedictine High School. Between his sophomore and junior years, he began working at an animal clinic in Willoughby Hills. He worked there until he graduated from Heidelberg College with a biology degree and before heading off to OSU's veteruinary school. He laughed recalling his first job was cleaning kennels, but over the years, he took on additional assignments assisting in treatment areas and surgery and handling client phone calls, which he believes helped prepare him for his career. At OSU, Krupka focused on general practice because he wanted to work with small animals like those he had as a child. He credits his uncle with suggesting he have a chat with Dr. James Haddad, owner of Avon Lake Animal Clinic. Krupka joined the staff 27 years years ago and is now a part owner. He and his wife, Donna, built their home on a portion of farm her great-grandfather purchased in the 1930s on the border of Avon and North Ridgeville. At the time, their three sons were preschoolers and they looked forward to providing them with space where they could engage in and enjoy outdoor activities. Those boys are now men — Frankie, 25, Christopher, 22 and Andrew, 20 — and they had a fishing pond as well as a barn and outbuildings for animals each boy cared for during their years in 4H. Donna served as volunteer adviser while he volunteered professional assistance to their sons' 4H Club, which led to Krupka's involvement with the county fair and, this year, being named co-veterinarian. Contact Michele Murphy at ctnews@chroniclet.com.