New partnership leads to largest-ever Sunshine Class at Kentucky State Fair WMKY
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TheKentuckyDepartmentofAgricultureannouncedthatithasteamedupwithSpecialOlympicsKentuckytoexpandtheSunshineClassattheKentuckyStateFair.KDAofficialssaidthepartnershipisincreasingawarenessoftheclass,whichisforyouthintheCommonwealthwhohavespecialneeds.SpecialOlympicsKentuckyrepresentativessaidtheirathleteshaveopportunitiestocompeteathletically,butthechancetoenterashowringwillallowthemtoexcelinanotherarea.
KentuckyAgricultureCommissionerJonathanShellsaidtheprogramisallaboutinclusionandiscontinuingtogrowinparticipation.
“TheystartedtheSunshineClasstoallowspecialneedsindividualstoshowalambjustlikeeverybodyelsedoes,atthecountyfairsandStatefairsthatparticipateinit,”saidShell.“Thefirstyearwehadthreeparticipants,twoyearsagowehadfive,andlastyeartherewere12.”
Hesaidalongwithamentor,thestudentswillescortalambaroundtheshowring.Shellsaidthepartnershiphasbeenimportantwhenitcomestoexpandingthisinclusiveexperienceacro