BOWLING GREEN — Rabbit, sheep, or goat? That was Sammy Sisco’s dilemma as she entered the practice area of the 2024 Ring of Dreams at the Wood County fairgrounds on West Poe Road.
This was the first time she would show an animal, and the 18-year-old who has Down syndrome selected the goat.
The sheep was too loud and the rabbit needed a lot of hands-on work, said mom Emily Sisco of Bowling Green.
The Ring of Dreams is an opportunity for individuals with developmental disabilities to show an animal at the Wood County Fair. Last Tuesday was a practice run for the 53 participants and 45 mentors. The main show is set for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 1 in the Pratt Pavilion.
Mrs. Sisco, who is the principal at Wood Lane School for people with disabilities, said without this event, it’s doubtful Sammy would get this close to a farm animal.
“She would have to have a lot of support and guidance. We’re not really a farm family, so even without the disability, we wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity to do this, just because it’s not what we do,” she said.
Amanda Barndt saw a Ring of Dreams at the Henry County Fair in 2022 and was determined to bring the event to Wood County.
“The whole idea here is giving anybody with a developmental disability the opportunity to show a livestock animal,” Ms. Barndt said.
She credited Wood Lane, all the local schools, and her farm community for stepping up and making this happen.
“We’ve shown the community just how important these individuals are,” Ms. Barndt said.
The 4-H and FFA mentors spend their summers feeding and raising the animals, then showing them to judges, she said.
“They make sure that they are halter-broke, so that they are ready to walk in the show arena, under fans, around people,” she said. “In the arena, those animals get put on display — there’s a judge in there. And this show gives these participants that same opportunity, to show to a judge, to an audience in the show arena.”
As Ms. Barndt was speaking, participant Bob Lawson of Bowling Green came up to her for a hug. He was working with Garrett Ziegler of North Baltimore and his pig.
“I had a lot of fun with it last year,” Mr. Ziegler said. “The amount of time and dedication that Amanda’s put into it, it’s giving our best and trying to support the community.”
He focused on teaching Mr. Lawson the basics.
“For example, pigs can’t sweat so you have to spray them to cool them off,” Mr. Ziegler said.
Outside the sheep barn on the fairgrounds, Bristol McDowell of Haskins was showing Dennis Miller of Perrysburg how to maneuver Maryann the pig. A series of taps on the pig’s side could get her to turn or walk. Marshmallows and mints are also great incentives, Bristol said.
Mr. Miller said he showed a rabbit at last year’s Ring of Dreams, but wanted to experience a different animal.
“I wanted to switch it up this year,” he said with a grin. “I like Maryann.”
By the end of the evening, Addison Kepling, 12, of North Baltimore had Heather Jackson of Bowling Green expertly holding back the pink ears on Baxter the New Zealand rabbit. The two had also been paired for last year’s Ring of Dreams.
“They’re soft and they’re more easy to deal with,” Ms. Jackson said of the rabbits. “I like it. I like to show.”
Ryleigh Perry, 15, of Luckey volunteered at the 2023 Ring of Dreams and also shows rabbits and geese at the fair.
”They didn’t have enough help for the goats, so I decided to see what it would be like,” Ryleigh said as she tried to wrangle a tan goat on a short leash. “This is just a really cool opportunity for everyone.”
“It’s a great thing. I was not able to make it last year, but I will not miss it this year,” said Tony Violi of Bowling Green, who owns the goat that Ryleigh was walking.
Owning and caring for an animal is a huge responsibility, he said. It says a lot about the kids who were volunteering and taking on another duty, and the people with developmental disabilities who want to take a chance and learn something new, Mr. Violi said.
“It’s very time consuming. We try to get our daughter to walk the goats, two to three, four times a week,” he said. “It’s a lot of time commitment. And animals don’t always behave.”
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