Special Olympics Unified Livestock Show - SOULS

08/05/2026

(Link in comments) Thank you to the Farm and Dairy for showcasing our SOULS show! Helping to spread this to other counties & states has been my goal! 💚🍀

“Thanks to a growing movement of inclusive livestock shows, more Ohio children are getting a chance to shine in the showring at the county fair.

Programs like Special Olympics Unified Livestock Show (SOULS), Heart of a Champion and Animal and Me pair children with disabilities with young 4‑H mentors, allowing them to learn about and show animals like pigs, goats and rabbits in a safe, fun and celebratory environment.

But these inclusive shows do more than impact the exhibitors.

"It impacts the entire community," said Laura Akgerman, disability services coordinator for Ohio AgrAbility. "I’d like to believe it makes us all nicer and really excited to get involved with people that aren’t like us, that have different abilities."

Read the full heart-warming story at the link below. And if your fair is having an inclusive show this summer, please share the details with us in the comments.”

📸: One-Niner Sports Photography

Jefferson County Fair Official, Aaron Henderson, Ohio Fair Managers Association, Ohio AgrAbility Program, Jefferson County Board of DD, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Ohio State - College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Kim Warren, Alaina Warren, Randy Albaugh

Thanks to a growing movement of inclusive livestock shows, more Ohio children are getting a chance to shine in the showring at the county fair.

Programs like Special Olympics Unified Livestock Show (SOULS), Heart of a Champion and Animal and Me pair children with disabilities with young 4‑H mentors, allowing them to learn about and show animals like pigs, goats and rabbits in a safe, fun and celebratory environment.

But these inclusive shows do more than impact the exhibitors.

"It impacts the entire community," said Laura Akgerman, disability services coordinator for Ohio AgrAbility. "I’d like to believe it makes us all nicer and really excited to get involved with people that aren’t like us, that have different abilities."

Read the full heart-warming story at the link below. And if your fair is having an inclusive show this summer, please share the details with us in the comments.

📸: One-Niner Sports Photography

08/04/2026

🤟 Meet - Haley Cherepko
Haley is a 2023 Catholic Central High School graduate and current Ohio State University student majoring in Psychology with minors in Education and American Sign Language (ASL).

This summer she has been interning at Pathways for Inclusion:, where she has been shadowing sessions and leading “Intro to ASL” workshops. She is currently applying to graduate school for a Master’s in Counselor Education on the Clinical Mental Health track, with the goal of becoming a licensed clinical counselor working primarily with children and the Deaf community.
🏈 This fall, Haley will also be signing the National Anthem at OSU football games in the Shoe! ⭕️🙌🏼

Jefferson County Fair Official
Haley Cherepko
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Ohio State University Extension
Ohio State - College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
Ohio State Buckeyes

08/03/2026

🌟 SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT! 🌟

We are so excited to welcome ⭐️ Glory Dami as our special musical guest at the 2026 SOULS Show!
Glory is the 2016 Jefferson County Fair Queen and a proud former 4-H’er. She now shares her love of music as a music educator with Steubenville City Schools.
She shared that she is truly honored to perform for the Special Olympics Unified Livestock Show and is grateful to be part of this meaningful event.

We can’t wait to hear her beautiful voice help make the day even more special for our athletes, mentors, families, and community! 🐄❤️🎶

08/01/2026

⚡️Back by popular demand, the emcee of all emcees…. 🎤 Carl Glenn! ⚡️

Carl returns on the microphone as emcee of the 2026 SOULS show on August 15th.
If you know Carl, you know he keeps the crowd entertained with his quick wit and boisterous voice.

BIO: Carl is a New Sommerset Trailblazer, Purple Circle, and Edison FFA alumni. Pigs were his specialty. Currently, he is the head advisor of the Country Rangers 4-H Club. For the past twenty years, he's primarily helped members with their horse projects for multiple county and state fairs along with all other species. He has also announced many horse shows. You'll hear him over the loudspeaker this week during the fair. Stop by the horse arena on Tuesday afternoon during the Fun Show and you may see him wearing his dirty underwear 🤭. He would like all of the exhibitors to take a breath, relax, and have fun showing each of their species. A special shout out and thank you to Mimi Ault for taking the time to research, organize, and get the ball rolling for this 3rd annual SOULS show.

THANK YOU Carl!

08/01/2026

Tables still available!

We’re looking for businesses, organizations, nonprofits, community groups, and local resources to set up a FREE informational table at the Special Olympics Unified Livestock Show (SOULS)!

This is a great opportunity to:
🐄 Connect with families from across the region
❤️ Share what your organization has to offer
🌟 Support an incredible event that celebrates inclusion, teamwork, and community

📅 August 15, 2026
🕔 5:00 PM
📍 Jefferson County Fairgrounds – Sale Barn

Interested? Send us a message to reserve your table. We’d love to have you as part of this special event!

08/01/2026

We are excited to introduce the 2025 Royalty Project: Share the Show! 👑

We’re collecting donations of new and gently used livestock show clothing for kids who need a little extra support. Items such as show shirts, jeans, belts, boots, and other show attire can help make a child’s fair experience unforgettable.

If you have show clothes your family has outgrown, consider giving them a second life through “Share the Show”. Your donation could help another young exhibitor feel proud, confident, and ready to shine in the ring.

Bring donations to the Jr. Fair Building during booth set up on August 15th and 16th!!

07/28/2026

Our fourth ✨shout-out ✨goes to Aaron and Christina Henderson of One Niner Sports Photography.
They have a gift for capturing exactly what the SOULS show is all about — pure joy, connection, and the beautiful moments that happen when everyone is included.

Not only do they show up and photograph the event, but they generously offer those digital images completely FREE of charge to anyone who wants them afterward. That kind of support and quiet generosity does not go unnoticed.

Aaron and Christina aren’t just talented photographers — they’re also wonderful friends of this mission. And a special note of appreciation for Christina, who also serves as the Director of Special Education for Edison Local School District, bringing that same spirit of inclusion and care to her work every day.

We are so grateful for your family. Thank you for believing in what SOULS stands for. ❤️
For all of your sports (& more) photography needs, contact  the Henderson‘s at One Niner sports Photography.

07/26/2026

Our third ✨ 2026 SOULS SHOUTOUT✨ goes to the Jefferson County Fairboard! Jefferson County Fair Official
They have been on board since the very beginning—offering to host the show in the arena, helping set up tables, and wholeheartedly supporting this dream of inclusion. Without a location, SOULS simply would not happen.
Please join me in thanking the Jefferson County Fairboard for their generous support and partnership. We are so grateful!

https://thejeffersoncountyfair.com
Ohio Fair Managers Association
Ohio AgrAbility Program

07/22/2026

👕 Our second shoutout goes to ✨Alliance Integrated Care✨ for offering to purchase this years mentor AND exhibitor shirts!!! 👕

Alliance Integrated Care LLC is a mental and behavioral health provider in Steubenville, Ohio, offering patient-centered services like counseling, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management for children and adults, with a focus on integrating mental and physical health. They provide telehealth options and support for developmental disabilities, aiming to improve overall well-being through accessible, personalized care.

Thank you to Ashley Thompson for reaching out with this sponsorship opportunity! 💕

Check out their website

07/21/2026

August 15th is coming!