BeYou Livestock Show inspiring for all

Four years ago Kylie Ramirez was a student at West Holmes High School with big dreams of developing a fair show that would allow people with developmental disabilities to enjoy the thrill of showing animals in the ring in front of a big crowd.

Today, BeYou Livestock Show has grown into something special.

This year’s BeYou Livestock Show will take place Saturday, Aug. 12 at noon in the show arena in the expo center at Harvest Ridge with 14 exhibitors and as many mentors set to put on a show.

“Even after five years, I still get emotional watching the show,” Ramirez said. “It’s such an incredible feeling that it’s hard to explain to parents what it’s like. You almost have to just come and experience it to understand how incredible this event is to the participants and their families. Most importantly, we want people with special needs to see there are no limits on what they can do, and that includes exhibiting livestock at shows.”

Ramirez, who is going into her senior year at the Ohio State University, where she is pursuing a degree in agricultural communication with a minor in agricultural business, said this passion project has helped her grow in many ways including developing some lasting friendships, and it also has impacted the exhibitors who would not otherwise get a chance to experience showing animals and being around them. She said for individuals with developmental disabilities, working with and being around the various animals is a great form of therapy, and it uplifts their spirits.

“You start this and you hope it happens, but you never know and you follow your heart and see where it takes you,” Ramirez said. “This event was designed with a purpose, and it’s been exciting to see so many people get behind it and support it.”

Going into its fifth year, BeYou has developed into a fun and meaningful part of the Holmes County Fair, drawing not only exhibitors from in and around Holmes County, but also bringing in mentors from several hours away, young people who want to help develop the show while enhancing their own leadership skills.

While the show is designed for those with developmental disabilities, one byproduct of the show has been what it has meant to the mentors. Becoming a mentor isn’t as easy as simply showing up one day. Ramirez conducts interviews for prospective mentors. BeYou has allowed them to grow alongside the exhibitors. The mentors are young people from age 9-21 who show a desire to gain leadership skills and enjoy helping others.

“Not only do they get to share their passion for the animals and the agricultural industry, they also get practice interviewing, which is a big part of 4-H and FFA,” Ramirez said.

She said one main question she always asks each mentor is why they want to be a mentor.

She said the answers always give her chills of excitement.

“Many of them share the same passion in wanting to go into a field where they are working with people with developmental disabilities, and most of them say that they want to find ways to serve others,” Ramirez said. “Then you see them come in and dive right in and get comfortable, and you know they are going to be great mentors and that is super-exciting.”

Ramirez said BeYou has gained enough notoriety that mentors are coming in from across the state to participate.

As for the show, a total of 14 exhibitors, the most ever to participate in the show, will take center stage and work with a host of animals including pygmy goats, meat goats, rabbits, sheep and pigs. Each participant can show one or all the animals.

Ramirez said in preparation for BeYou, there was a kick-off meeting introducing exhibitors to their mentors, who worked diligently with the exhibitors during five practice sessions where they learned about each species of animal and some of the techniques in showing them. Ramirez said showmanship is a neat way for the exhibitors to learn more about the animals.

While the early years saw BeYou focus on just showing the animals with no placement, she said last year they began having judges participate to present placement awards to make it a little more competitive, something she said is good for the exhibitors to experience.

For a show that touches the lives of the exhibitors, their families, the mentors and anyone who comes to watch, Ramirez said the growth she has experienced is something special.

“I love the purpose and the execution of the planning and implementation of this event,” Ramirez said. “It’s taught me a lot about leadership, and it has prepared me to work with individuals with developmental disabilities. I’ve gotten so much out of this, and my hope is that those who attend will feel the same emotions of joy and excitement that our exhibitors show. I hope we have a huge turnout because BeYou is such a heartwarming event.”