Geneseo’s Wingfest Needs Support as Flu Decimates Chickens

GENESEO – Chicken wing prices are flying high, and the Association for the Preservation of Geneseo (APOG) annual chicken wing festival and fundraiser is suffering.

Kurt Cylke with APOG said that plans for Wingfest are rapidly taking shape, but due to the spike in wing prices the event will have to scale back.

“Prices last year were $70 a case last year and are now $132, which pretty much destroys any chance of us making a profit,” said Cylke. “Last year’s Wingfest was good enough that we decided it’s still worth it for us to put it on. We originally planned on selling 500 tickets, but we may have to scale back to 350.”

Last year’s Wingfest sold 200 tickets, and Cylke said that APOG made out just fine.

Cylke added that disease is decimating chicken flocks across the country.

“Apparently the flu is killing flocks all over the country,” said Cylke. “Farmers are culling thousands of them.”

Nonetheless, Wingfest will go on Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Center Street, coinciding with Autumnfest.

This year will feature a chicken mascot, Lucky Clucky, who will visit the Farmers market on Thursday.

Proceeds from Wingfest will go to APOG.