The Bay County Fairgrounds and the Bay County Sheriff’s Department teamed-up to help make a memorable day for students with disabilities

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – A total of 130 students from Margaret K. Lewis School in Millville, Surfside Middle School, Northside Elementary School, and Lynn Haven Elementary School arrived at the Central Panhandle fairgrounds Wednesday to enjoy the fair.

Bay County sheriff’s deputies joined the children. Sheriff Tommy Ford says this is a heart-warming event for all of his team.

“You know, it helps us have that that relationship and they know that law enforcement is here to be their friend and a helper and somebody that’s there for them. And that in a time of need. And just like I said, I think the deputies have more fun than the kids do and it’s certainly rewarding,” Ford said.

Deputies have been escorting special needs kids around the midway and on the rides. It gives them the opportunity to get to know the students.

“Our deputies have a difficult job and that they see people on their worst day in very bad and tragic circumstances. So, any time that we can take time to just have fun with the kids and the community, and not be, you know, us responding to an emergency or a tragedy, that’s a great day for us and we’re just so happy that we’ve been able to bring this back after six years since before Hurricane Michael,” Ford said.

Fair officials say they’ve been holding the special needs day for students for about 25-years.

“It’s part of the community and we don’t want the special needs student’s kind of feel at odd when it’s a big crowd. So, we don’t have nobody here except for the special needs and their parents and their guardians and, and the teachers and that way they have free access to get on the rides,” Central Panhandle Fair Director Kevin Bartlett said.

The fair runs through Saturday at the fairgrounds on the corner of east 15th street and Sherman Avenue.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.