By Nikki Burkhamer
Examiner Contributor
Kaylyn Elliott, the Logan County Junior Fair secretary, must be thankful that she listens to her grandma. Kaylyn took her grandmother’s idea and turned it into a successful event Saturday, July 12, at the Logan County Fair’s Show Barn.
Her grandma, from the Marion area, shared an idea from her local fair with Kaylyn called “Open Hearts.” This event provides special needs students with the opportunity to show fair animals in the show arena.
Kaylyn loved the idea, named her new event ‘Stars of the Show Ring’, and then did the work to put together a successful, new event at the 175th Logan County Fair.
“This gives these students an opportunity that they may not get the chance to have, and it lets them be a part of the fair, and lets them just have so much fun,” Kaylyn said proudly.
“It helps them get in front of people and it gives them experience on how to act in the community.”
Many local students were able to show rabbits and goats with the help of experienced showmen. They were even judged on their performance.
Benjamin Logan’s Special Education Director Colleen Bodin was excited to be a part of the event.
“It was a great thing that Kaylyn started, and I think they need to keep doing it. Participants were judged in four classes —two rabbit classes and two goat classes.”
Ava Nichols, an incoming 6th grader to Ben Logan Middle School, showed a bunny for the first time. She loves dancing, and she had a wonderful time getting her picture taken with all of the other participants at the show arena.
“I showed my bunny. His name was Moo. I loved how soft he was,” Ava said with a huge smile.
The joy on the faces of the students who showed in front of the well-attended arena was contagious. Their enthusiasm and excitement created a happy and supportive crowd. The event was truly magical.
Nate Wills will soon be an eighth-grader at Bellefontaine Middle School this fall. He was thrilled that the goat he was able to show had the name “Chewbacca.”
Kara Wills, Nate’s mom thought “it was great. It was something for him to be able to do that is new in the community, and I love how he showed off his skills.”
Kaeson Martin, another Bellefontaine Middle School student admitted, “I was a little nervous and I had a little social anxiety, but when I went out there and carried the bunny and began to answer the questions, I started to feel at ease.”
Kaeson knew quite a few facts about the rabbit he was able to exhibit.
“His name is Benjamin. His breed is Rex, and his color is Blue Otter. And, he is a boy,” Kaeson said with a beaming smile and showing what he had already learned in the ring.
His mother, Mollie Wise, was very impressed with the event.
“It’s a great experience, because at first, he was very nervous, but this is something he can overcome. He was in front of a lot of people, and it’s something he had to speak about, remember and obtain information.
“He was able to do it, and it made him feel very proud. I’m just overwhelmed with how well this community has been towards my son, and it’s just amazing,” Mollie noted with pride.
Robin Boots, a former Bellefontaine Schools intervention specialist, has over 30 years of experience. Now an Indian Lake Schools teacher, she has been supportive of Kaeson since he was in her kindergarten class.
“The world would be a better place if more people were like Mrs. Boots,” Kaeson’s mother bragged.
Robin, another fan of the new event, said, “I’m excited about this program. I see several of my former students, and a few of my students now, and I think it’s great that they have this opportunity, I hope it continues to grow.”
The Stars of the Show Ring was well-supported by area intervention specialists. Katelyne Ackley from the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center helped to assure that Kaylyn had everything she needed to make Stars of the Show Ring the success it was.
“It definitely makes me feel really excited and happy to see all of the children and adults included in an event that, sometimes they want to be a part of, but it’s too many different things that are in the way.
“This is a way that they can already come and have an animal taken care of and then they can show in the ring. It’s definitely been exciting to see the community just being right behind us all the way to show that support.
“The Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities has been so helpful. They helped us get the show up and running. We really didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into, and now we are going to continue this event annually.
After the promising show was over, Kaylyn Elliott happily stated, “It makes me really excited that we had this good of a success with this new event at our county fair.”
2025 Participants of Stars of the Show Ring
Class 1 Rabbits: Ava Nichols, Janna Bader, Ally King.
Class 2 Rabbits: Kaeson Martin, Lalla Wright, Alexander Huffman, Layna Huffman.
Class 3 Goats: Brayden Clary, Nate Wills.
Class 4 Goats: Christian Wright, Tony Bader, Addie Karg.
2025 Sponsors of Stars of the Show Ring: Firehouse Pizza and Subs, Logan County Board of DD, Farm to Power, Edward Jones, The Elliott Family, Wenger’s Produce.