On Saturday, July 29th, Colby Von Haden, one of five members on the Junior Fair Board, was on hand to help ensure that the Special Abilities Classic went off without a hitch, at the Monroe County Fair. There were seven showmen and showwomen in the Youth category, with an equal number in the Teen category. Animals that are earmarked to be shown in this specific event include pigs, sheep, goats, llamas, dairy calves, rabbits, and chickens.
“We pride ourselves in the All-Abilities Classic,” stated Von Haden. “Formerly known as our Special Needs Show, we rebranded it this year, and we have so much fun.”
Von Haden informed the Herald that even youth from other counties and communities are welcomed, with open arms, to participate in the event. “We provide an opportunity, for those members in our communities, here in Monroe County, as well as other communities. Anybody can come in, from anywhere, the day of the show, and show an animal.”
Von Haden went on to explain that the choice is up to the participant, as far as what animal they would like to show. “We take their signups and their interests [animals they prefer to show] and pair them up with junior exhibitors that we know very well, and whom we know are enthusiastic to pair up with them.”
Von Haden says that the show person can make a list of the animals they would like to show, and the board will figure out what works best for the event. “The choice is totally up to them, on what they want to show” he says. “We spend the week here, finding kids that have animals for the event. I am young enough that I can just walk around and ask, ‘Hey, do you want to come down and help us out, by bringing your lamb, or your goat?’ and the response is overwhelmingly positive.”
Right before the show, Von Haden was walking around with the list of show-person names and introducing them to their junior exhibitor partners. The animals, where halters or leads are utilized, are then walked around a few times by the participants, with the junior exhibitor volunteers right beside them.
“We let them walk around [the show ring] a time or two,” Von Haden explained to the Herald. “We will then ask them what their name is, what their animal’s name is, and what their favorite part about the fair is. After we interview them, every kid gets a trophy and a blue ribbon, plus a coupon to go to the 4-H ice cream stand.”
“We provide an opportunity for kids to come in and hold a lamb, or pet a calf, where as in many communities, they are not afforded that opportunity,” Von Haden remarked.
How can we participate?
If you want to participate in this wonderful event, Von Haden says that you can reach out to the Monroe County Fair, on their Facebook page, where you can find their email address, as well as their phone number, where you can contact them at any time during the year. “When we set an official date for the fair next year, we will have advertising on Facebook, send out fliers out to the schools. We do take pre-signup, just so we have an idea for numbers, but anyone can just show up, the day of the event.
The Junior Fair Board works underneath the Monroe County Ag Society, the organization that puts on the Monroe County Fair. The other four members of the Junior Fair Board are Rachel Klinkner, Emily Powell, Serena Green and Bonita Hanley. Colby Von Haden said that “We hope to do this for a long time. There are so many people that love coming out to watch and support the kids. With the hot weather, it can be exhausting, and I am thankful to everyone involved, from my fellow board members to the participants providing the animals and those showing the animals. We are all thankful to the Monroe County Ag Society, for this magnificent opportunity.”
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