A wheelchair didn’t stop Joel from showing a pig at the 2023 Ohio State Fair. Joel was one of many participants between 9 and 22 years old with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who made their debut in the show ring during the first “Breaking Boundaries” Pig Show.
With the assistance of 25 youth mentors from the Ohio Pork Council’s OH-PIGS program, these participants enjoyed their first “center-ring” opportunity to care for and show pigs. Each participant was furnished with their own show pig and paired with a mentor to help guide them in their experience.
“We know the real-world life lessons that are gained in the show ring for so many youths around Ohio and the nation and we wanted to create that type of opportunity for this special group of young people, too,” explains Kelly Morgan, OH-PIGS manager, and Ohio State Fair assistant swine superintendent.
Joel’s partner, Miley Caldwell of Leesburg, Ohio, says being a mentor was a great opportunity and opened her eyes to deeper understanding of others.
“Even though Joel was in a wheelchair, he was still very capable of showing a pig. He wasn’t scared,” Caldwell says. “He was really excited about showing and he did a great job.”
Caldwell is not new to the show ring and has been active showing pigs in Ohio and throughout the country. She decided to say yes to being a mentor in this inaugural event because she thought it would be a good opportunity to meet new people and work with others outside of the swine industry.
“We hope that we’re starting something that will be an annual event at the Ohio State Fair,” says Cheryl Day, executive vice president of the Ohio Pork Council. “It’s just another way that we can demonstrate how our state’s pig farmers and show pig families continue to give back to not only their own communities, but the whole state.”
The show wouldn’t have been possible without the support and collaboration of OH-PIGS’ families, Morgan emphasizes.
The OH-PIGS youth volunteers and adults who helped the participants at the inaugural Breaking Boundaries Pig Show .
“While the experience may have only been for one evening at the state fair, we hope that for the young people and their families that this inaugural show created a lifelong memory that creates good emotions,” Morgan says.
Caldwell encourages other youth to participate in this program.
“Kelly Morgan has done a great job organizing the event and bringing new opportunities to all kids. I had a lot of fun and look forward to participating next year,” she says.
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