By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The 2023 Ring of Dreams at the Wood County Fair was a one-day livestock show that partnered individuals with developmental disabilities and 4-H members with their animals.
As the event organizer Amanda Barndt prepares to reprise the livestock show at the 2024 county fair, she never dreamed the impact would last for 365 days.
“I see the Ring of Dreams T-shirts pop up around town,” she said.
At the Bowling Green Holiday Parade in November, one of the participants wore the 4-H hat his partner had given him and the medal he won for showing a pig.
“The entire community embraced the show completely,” Barndt said. “The participants loved it. The mentors loved it. The audience loved it. The adult staff (of Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities) loved it.”
Wherever she goes she hears, “You’re the Ring of Drams girl,” affirming the event is worth bringing back.
The special livestock show at this year’s fair will start at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 1 in the Pratt Pavilion.
However, before that happens, individuals who want to show a rabbit, lamb, goat, big or beef feeder in the Ring of Dreams must attend the mandatory sign up on Thursday, June 27 from 6-7:30 as well as the practice session on July 9 from 6-8 p.m. (rain date: July 10, 6-8 p.m.). Both activities will be in the sheep show arena at the Wood County Fairgrounds.
Once she knows how many participants have registered, she will know how many partners are needed.
The partners are Wood County 4-H or FFA members who show livestock at the fair. Each junior fair members will be paired with a participant to teach them the basics of showing the animal during the practice session and then guide them through the show on Aug. 1.
Her goal is to have a one-to-one ratio this year so that each mentor has one participant to connect and work with for the event.
To facilitate her goal, Barndt created an online form for junior fair members to indicate their willingness to be a mentor. When they fill out the form, they include the animal they will share, confirmation they can attend the practice and the show, and a brief explanation of why they are interested in being a mentor.
She already had received 40 mentor applications a month before the signup date, which is nearly the number of people who showed animals in 2023.
“Reading through the reasons is incredible,” Barndt said. She relayed one mentor applicant’s rationale.
A 17-year-old who participated last year wrote: “I was really nervous last year when my partner ended up being blind. However, I was able to see the joy on her face the entire time.”
That sentiment from a teenage boy warmed Barndt’s heart.
She witnessed many budding friendships between the participants and mentors, but also between the participants and the animals.
Last year on show day, one of the young participants who was nonverbal went into the beef feeder barn with her father. She pointed to the calf she had practiced with, but her father didn’t think it was the right animal. Barndt, who happened to be nearby, stepped up and assured them it was the correct animal.
“The dad’s eyes lit up” with surprise and pride, Barndt said. “Animals just connect with people.”
The community support also has been instrumental in the show’s success. Businesses and individuals have donated items and funds to pay for T-shirts for the participants and mentors, goodie bags and prizes.
“It’s been incredible to see it all come together,” she said. “Everyone has to see it to believe it.” The goodwill and joy that fill the show arena are palpable.
For more information about registration, practice dates or the event, the Ring of Dreams has a Facebook page, or contact Barndt by email at ringofdreamswoodcounty@gmail.com.
