By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Seven-year-old Kaelynn Miller was a little skittish when she first met Amelia the goat on Tuesday.
The meeting between the petite blonde and the brown Nigerian Dwarf goat was their first face-to-face in preparation for the second annual Ring of Dreams Livestock Show at the Wood County Fair.
Kaelynn, who successfully led Amelia around the barn during the practice, is one of 53 participants in this year’s show. Last year she showed a rabbit with the help of junior fair members Summer Heldman.
This year, Kaelynn’s mother Lindsey suggested she try a different animal and decided a goat would be a good choice.
“We have chickens at home and she loves them, so we wanted to introduce her to other animals. Ring of Dreams gives her that opportunity to be near them, hear them and feel their texture,” Lindsey Miller said. “We also love that the event promotes inclusion at the fair. It’s important to us that she is part of something bigger.”
And this year’s Ring of Dreams–created to give individuals with developmental disabilities the opportunity to work with junior fair members and experience the thrill and rewards of showing an animal in a livestock arena–is bigger, according to event organizer Amanda Barndt. The number of participants and junior fair mentors increased by more than 20% over last year.
“The Ring of Dreams last year was such a success that I hoped the participants and the junior fair mentors would encourage their friends to sign up this year,” she said. That appears to be the case, with 53 participants and 45 mentors for the 2024 show. Participants can choose from showing a rabbit, sheep, goat, pig or beef feeder.
“One of my favorite parts is seeing the junior fair members get involved,” Barndt said. “These are already a great group of kids, who are responsible, respectful and hard-working. They have worked with their animals and have them ready to show.”
Many new relationships are developed because of this unique partnership, she said, recalling some of the partners did extra practices or met at the fair to ride the rides or just meet up.
Last year, 11-year-old Skylar Swartz mentored Jennifer Dawson and Virginia Downs and taught them the tricks of showing goats in the arena.
“I loved it. It was so fun to help them and teach them how to show a goat,” said Swartz, a member of Winning Edge 4-H Club. She also convinced some of her 4-H friends to get involved this year.
As the top junior showman in the performance and dairy goat showmanship contest at last year’s fair, Swartz is ready to help again. On Tuesday with her goat Gypsy, Swartz demonstrated some showmanship techniques to Christopher Schuckers.
Though he participated last year and showed Ice Cream the goat, he decided to stick with goats again for the 2024 show. He liked the demeanor of goats over the other livestock choices. Schuckers is also looking forward to seeing “all of my family, friends and fans” when he is in the show ring.
Barndt also commented about the incredible community support for the show before, during and after. After the sign-up in June, once she knew the number of participants and mentors, within 24 hours she had raised nearly $3,000 to cover all the costs of the T-shirts, medals and giveaways for the show.
The community also came out to support the event last year. Barndt expects the arena to be packed to the rafters and recommends visitors come early to get a seat. The show will be held during the Wood County Fair on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Pratt Pavilion. To see the show is free once spectators are admitted to the fair. Admission to the fair is $10 per day with children nine years old and under admitted free.
For more information about Ring of Dreams, visit the Facebook page or email ringofdreams.woodcounty@gmail.com.
