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Special Olympics and Sperry FFA Team Up for Local Livestock Show
Sperry FFA Hosts District’s First Special Olympics Livestock Show
Special Olympics and Future Farmers of America teamed up in Sperry on Friday, February 24 for the first Sperry Special Olympics Invitational Livestock Show. Assisted by a district FFA students, Special Olympics team members cleaned, groomed, and practiced show maneuvers with their choice of pigs, cattle, goats, or sheep. Then the contestants and their FFA assistants led their animals into the show arena for the judging.
Sperry FFA members Brittnie Corley, Chriss Walker, Ivy Wildcat, Faith Cole, Austin Moore, and Rylee Miller worked as assistants with Special Olympics participants Ethan Fancher, Braden Thomas, Izzy McMurray, Jackie Long, Ellen Wilson, and Dalton Wright as the Olympians groomed and then lead a show pig into the arena for judging. Jackie said, “I had an amazing time. I didn’t know that you can bathe and polish a pig!” Dalton agreed, saying, “I had one of the best experiences I’ve ever had!”
FFA members Kaylee Harvey, and Hydee Williamson assisted Donovan Mayo and Reid Dickey as these two Olympians cared for and lead cattle in the competition. Reid noted, “I helped Hydee show her cow called Amy. I had a good time even though Amy stepped on my foot.”
FFA members Nate Bickford and Ethan Foshee assisted Olympians Dylan Freeman and Brittany Crawford with the grooming and showing of goats. Dylan said, “I showed a goat with Nate, and he let me name the goat. I named him Petey.”
FFA member Morgan Tiblow interviewed the participants in all events.
Sperry FFA sponsor Danny Landsaw said, “I think it’s great to have this opportunity for our FFA students to help students who may never have worked with farm animals so closely before, to share their own enjoyment in these activities. It looked to me like the Special Olympics participants not only learned a great deal about the livestock they worked with, and had a great time as well. You can’t beat that.”
“I’ve shown goats for years and have always enjoyed it,” FFA member Nate Bickford noted, “and it’s become kind of routine for me. But it has been a special treat to get to share the enthusiasm I have for this activity with someone else, and see the excitement of going into the show arena for the first time on someone else’s face.”
