Springfield, IL-On August 15, youth of all ages and abilities took center stage at the Illinois State Fair Coliseum. In the first-ever Sunflower Show, modeled after the No Limits Livestock Shows, Special Olympics Athletes were paired with a volunteer mentor to introduce them to the experience and hard work that come with showing livestock at the State Fair.
Through a partnership between Illinois 4-H, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Special Olympics of Illinois, the experience culminated a year of planning, animal training, and many volunteer hours. Co-interim State Animal Systems Specialist, Shelby Carlson, said, “The Sunflower Show would not have been possible without so many people volunteering their time, expertise, and livestock to the project.”
Henderson County residents and farmers Dayne and Darrell Gitting played key roles in making this event a success. Carlson said, “As soon as I was asked to help make this experience a reality, I knew that the Gittings men and their show family would be my first call. Their passion for connecting people of all backgrounds with livestock and animal agriculture is second to none. Without a moment of hesitation, Dayne and Darrell volunteered animals to help make our vision a reality, and Darrell, Dayne, Cooper, and Lance all volunteered on show day to ensure that the athletes had a seamless experience in and out of the showring.”
The Gittings not only gave their time but also provided and trained eight lambs for the experience. “The commitment to the Sunflower Show didn’t begin or end during the couple of hours that the athletes were on the Fairgrounds. To ensure everything went smoothly for our athletes, we needed sheep that were gentle and tame. Their lambs walked better than my dog does on a leash, but that takes hours of work each day leading up to the show,” said Carlson. She continued, “These gentlemen understood that need and handpicked sheep that had the right temperament for the show and then worked with them all summer to ensure that the athletes had an experience that they will never forget.”
Dayne and Darrell Gittings were not the only local volunteers to make an impact on these Special Olympics Athletes. Cooper Gibb, a 4-H member, and Lance Jones of Henderson County also donated their time and expertise. Cooper and Dayne served as mentors to the athletes.
A panel of three judges juried the show: Eric Hodel (sheep judge), Jody Huffman (Illinois State Police), and State Senator Doris Turner. After the show, participants were hosted at a reception at the Fair Manager’s tent sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau.
When asked what she would remember most about this event, Shelby Carlson said, “The 4-H motto is ‘to make the best better.’ I thought that watching our 4-H members showcase their projects at the state level was the best, but watching them share that passion with others at events like the Sunflower Show truly does make it even better.”
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.