HAMILTON, Ohio — Reid Luken doesn’t get to play sports or take part in activities that other boys do. So, it was super exciting for him to get to show a goat in the Butler County Fair’s Animal and Me Class. 

For that class, 4-H and FFA members were partnered with special-needs kids. All summer long they worked with them, showing them how to care for and show either a sheep, goat, miniature horse or bunny. Riley Bonham mentored Reid Luken.

“He loved getting to play with them, walking them and feeding them Twizzlers,” said Beth Luken, Reid’s mother. “He loved being a part of it. He doesn’t get to do the sports and activities that the other boys do so this has made his entire summer.”

After learning about the Animal and Me Program at a conference in Columbus, Erin Simpson-Sloan 4-H Youth Development Butler County, brought the idea home and her team leaders ran with it. They advertised through schools, word of mouth, and their website. Ten special-needs kids participated, and everyone is hoping for more next year.

“They have been mentoring on knowing how to care for the animal, what to feed, how to give it a bath, clean out their pens,” Simpson-Sloan said. “These kids or young adults may not have an opportunity to work with the animals, so this is giving them that opportunity.”

The success of the program was evidenced by the happy smiles and by kudos from everyone involved.

Said Simpson-Sloan: “A mom emailed me before the program who said that their child was at first nervous to go to the goat but by the time, they were finished meeting that day that little boy was able to feed the goat. My 4-H member was able to connect with that individual and be able to get him more comfortable around that animal.”

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones and Butler County Commissioner Cindy Carpenter were “Judges.” They talked with each child but did no judging—all participants received a medal. 

“This is a great wonderful thing,” Jones said. “I’ll feel better than the kids do when this is done. I’m happy to be here and part of this process.” 

Very few projects target special-needs kids, Carpenter said. Every child has different abilities, and strengthening those abilities is important.

“As the parent of a disabled child, this means a lot to me,” Carpenter said.

Sophia and Caroline Mignery were mentors in the program. They worked with two special-needs people learning to show pygmy goats. They plan on doing it again next year.

“I really enjoyed helping the kids in our community,” Caroline said. “I loved helping them learn to do the things that I do, and I love showing goats.”

Julie Rose’s two sons Caleb, 10, and Connor, 8, were both in the program, working on the Bonham Farm with goats.

“We don’t live on a farm, so we never would have gotten this opportunity to show an animal,” Rose said. “To get to go to a farm and meet with these animals, pet them and brush them, learn how to walk them, they enjoyed it a lot.”

The program gave 4-H and FFA members a chance to show their leadership skills in knowing how to work with the animals, Simpson-Sloan said.

“They are all learning from one another, and it’s a great experience,” she said.