SINTON, Texas — Wednesday morning began just like any typical school day for hundreds of students in San Patricio and Aransas counties: on the school bus.
However, instead of hitting the books, these students got to strut their stuff in the show ring.
Early Wednesday morning, hundreds of students, their parents, volunteers and members of the San Patricio 4-H gathered at the show arena in Sinton for the annual Extra Special Livestock Show, which invites area students with special needs to show an animal in the ring. It's one of several events that make up the San Patricio and Aransas County A&H Show.
Erin Fagan-Bilbo was one of several proud parents in the crowd. Her five-year-old son, Grayson, is a kindergartner at Sinton Welder Elementary. She shared that her son has autism.
"We were out here just watching the little guy [Grayson] show a goat to his best potential," said Fagan-Bilbo. "It's a really good experience for them, he's been doing it for the last three years and each years he gets a little better."
The show is led by the San Patricio County 4-H Ambassadors, older students who guide the children and their animals in the ring.
"It's really special and has sparked some other county shows to start this event for their kids, we think it's really special to provide these special needs kids an opportunity to show," said Taylor O'Brien, a San Pat 4-H ambassador and senior at Calallen High School. "This experience is for them to try something new, find something they love, if that's animals and give them the opportunity to be a part of this."
The show was created nine years ago, and has grown significantly since. Both O'Brien and fellow ambassador, Megan Frerich, have been involved since it started.
"It's gotten bigger every year. We started with 60 people and now have 400," said Frerich, a senior at Odem High School. "It's like we're making an impact on them, and they're making an impact on us as well. It's great to see the smiles on their faces and to pet the animals because it's something new they've never experienced before.'
The sweet event allows students like Grayson to continue to shine and try something new. He along with the other students each got to walk away with a shiny new trophy. The Extra Special Livestock Show is open to children as young as elementary to high school.
"I have enjoyed it every year, coming out here and it seems like it's growing and growing every year and the kids love it." Fagan-Bilbo said. “Just to see the smiles on their faces and to know that for that moment you can’t take that away from them and that’s all we ask for as a parent."
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