CELINA, Ohio — Mercer DD is partnering with the Mercer County Fairgrounds to bring the inaugural “Share the Ring Showmanship” to the Mercer County Fair this summer.

Share the Ring Showmanship is a free livestock show, where those with differing abilities or developmental disabilities will be paired with junior fair 4-H members to show a species – dairy, rabbit, or sheep – in the arena. Participants will get to talk to the judge during the show, as well as learn about the animal from their 4-H mentor. Prior to the show, participants will have a ½ hour workshop to learn more about the designated species.

To be eligible to participate, participants must be from Mercer County and at least 9 years of age by the fair. Participants also must be on an IEP or 504 plan, or be receiving services through Mercer DD.

There are three shows that will take place, as follows: Saturday, August 12th: Rabbit Showmanship at 3:00pm at the Adrian Debrosse Arena with the workshop beginning at 2:30pm; Monday, August 14th: Dairy Showmanship at 12:00pm at the Adrian Debrosse Arena with the workshop beginning at 11:30am; and Wednesday, August 16th: Sheep Showmanship at 4:00pm at the Coldwater Young Farmers Arena with the workshop starting at 3:30pm. Participants can participate in multiple shows if they’d like. All participants will be given an award and t-shirt to wear alongside their mentor.

Shawn Thieman, Superintendent of Mercer DD

“We are very excited to bring this show on inclusion to the Mercer County Fair this year. Through collaboration with the fair, we truly think this will give individuals a unique experience and opportunity to show at the fair, who normally may not be able to,” he continued.

Those in wheelchairs are also able to participate in the show, and there is no maximum age limit to participate.

To register for the show, participants can fill out the online form at: https://forms.gle/Bi99BWoWaed6iQvd7 or participants can return the paper entry form to Mercer DD. Registration forms and more information can be found on Mercer DD’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MercerCountyBDD/

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Mercer DD serves approximately 500 eligible children and adults in Mercer County through a wide range of programming, supports and services. For additional information, visit mercerdd.org.

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