Fair is more inclusive with show

CELINA - An inclusive livestock show is a little less than a month away from making its debut at the Mercer County Fair.

Share the Ring Showmanship is a free livestock show where individuals with differing or developmental disabilities will be paired with junior fair 4-H members to show rabbits, sheep or dairy animals in an arena.

Mercer County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DD) Superintendent Shawn Thieman said fair director Cara Muhlenkamp broached the idea of putting on an all inclusive show.

"I reached out to them regarding adult changing tables and a possible sensory room," he said. "Cara reached out regarding a possible showmanship event."

Thieman added that the species were chosen for the show based on size and ease for participants of all abilities.

Siblings Allison, 11, and Michael Nix, 13, are two of the 11 participants signed up to participate in Share the Ring.

About three years ago, Michael was seriously injured while riding his bike in Coldwater. The accident left him with speech and communication difficulties. He also now uses a wheelchair.

The children's mother, Sarah, said Allison is involved in non-livestock 4-H already and will participate in the show to help her older brother show rabbits.

The family usually attends the fair each year and enjoys seeing the animals, she said.

"It just kind of sounded fun, something different to do," Sarah said. "I'm always looking for different opportunities for things for my kids to do, and for Michael to do."

The idea for the Share the Ring Showmanship event came after fair staff attended an International Association of Fairs & Expos conference last fall.

"It really sparked, 'OK, how can we do better?'" Muhlenkamp asked. "It made us think of what we're doing around here and how we can do better with everything."

Fair officials leaned on Mercer DD for support and knowledge on the subject, Muhlenkamp said.

"We don't know what we don't know," she said. "That was where the conversation developed, and we started from there. It's important for everybody to be able to come (to the fair)."

In addition to the inclusive animal show, the fair is also partnering with Mercer DD on adult changing tables and a possible sensory room.

Muhlenkamp said the fair will have an adult changing table supplied by Mercer DD available for use during this year's fair in the commercial building.

Fair officials are also considering placing an adult changing table and perhaps a sensory room in the forthcoming Grand Event Center.    The fair's $12.5 million Grand Event Center project will start phase 1, the Market Hall transformation, on September 1.

Phase 1, pegged at $1.4 million, has a completion deadline of March 1, 2024, Muhlenkamp said.

Phase 2 of the project includes construction of Grand Event Center, which boasts over 100,000 square feet. Officials plan to have the entire project, including Grand Event Center, ready to go for the 2024 fair.

Muhlenkamp said that a goal with the construction, in addition to expanding, is to make the fair more accessible for all citizens.

"We started conversations with them (Mercer DD) of, 'OK, what do we need to do? What do we need to think more on?'" she said. "I've been blessed with kids that haven't had those special needs that they have to consider. So, I don't know, and if I can lean on them, and be able to understand more, that's important."

The fair is an event to showcase the talents, achievements and interests of county residents.

"Just because they may have a challenge that is in front of them, doesn't mean that they don't have amazing things going on in their life and that they shouldn't have the same opportunities to be able to do those cool things," she said.