Review Winning 4-H Plan and discuss scenarios for accommodating 4-H members with disabilities at the fair. You’ll work together to use the creativity and problem solving that 4-H is known for, and devise ways to include 4-H members of all abilities.

1. The Winning 4-H Plan
and the County Fair:
Scenarios for Inclusion and Access
Laura Akgerman
Disability Services Coordinator:
Ohio AgrAbility and OSU
Extension
Heather Gottke
4-H Extension Educator:
Van Wert County
Laryssa Hook
4-H Extension Educator:
Delaware County

2. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Why do 4-H and the Fair have to
be accessible and inclusive?
1. It’s the right thing to do
Think of the Golden Rule
2. Federal Disability Laws
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Americans with Disabilities Act

3. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Winning 4-H Plan Goals
• ​To include all youth in the 4-H Youth Development experience regardless of
any special physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, and/or social needs
• To make adaptations or provide accommodations for youth with
disabilities within project skill level requirements
• To assist parents in setting realistic goals for youth with disabilities through
appropriate 4-H activities​
• To educate and assist volunteers through trainings and resources in
working with youth with disabilities​
To provide youth with disabilities more
opportunities to enjoy all aspects of 4-H

4. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Federal laws require us to provide
Reasonable Accommodations
A modification that
makes the event, site,
program or activity
accessible

5. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Unreasonable Accommodations
• Substantial change or alteration to the program
• Substantial change to an essential element of
the program
• Fundamentally alters the nature of the service
provided
• Poses direct threat to health or safety of self or
others

6. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
“You have to think a little smarter,
be proactive, not reactive”
• Fair Boards - be proactive and review the fairgrounds (before the fair!)
to make sure they are accessible to everyone
• Educators - review Winning 4-H Plans, make accommodations, and
notify judges when needed
• Parents and exhibitors – complete a Winning 4-H Plan and check
with Fair Board and Educators before the fair to make sure
accommodations will be ready

7. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
What would you do…
to accommodate an exhibitor?
In each of the following scenarios think about:
• What considerations and modifications need to be made before
the fair?
• What considerations and modifications need to be made at the
fair?
• Where do exhibitors typically show these projects?
• What accessibility issues might exist at your fairgrounds?

8. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Accommodating an exhibitor
who uses a wheelchair
• Sewing project
• Sheep project
• Rabbit project
• In addition to showing, they need to care for their sheep and
rabbit while at the fair

9. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Chicken project
A 4-H chicken exhibitor has severe
dust and pollen allergies, and
chemical sensitivity.
They have requested:
• Chicken barn and show ring be
made dust, pollen and chemical
free
• Barn clean-up needed for
them to safely participate in
fair activities (grooming,
feeding, showing, and
tending to their animal)

10. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Handling the unexpected:
“The best-laid plans of mice and
men often go awry”

11. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Sometimes even when plans are made,
and accommodations given, unexpected
things happen: Runaway animals
How do you, the Jr Fair Board member, handle it when an animal gets
loose, and the exhibitor is unable to rebound and capture the animal,
and/or continue showing the animal?
Your roles:
• Announcer
• Ring steward/manager

12. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Let’s review
and discuss
the scenarios

13. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Accommodating an exhibitor who
has a sewing project
and uses a wheelchair or other mobility device
• What considerations and modifications
need to be made before the fair?
At the fair?
• Where do exhibitors typically show
these projects?
• What accessibility issues might exist at
your fairgrounds?
• Other considerations?

14. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Accommodating an exhibitor who
is showing sheep
and uses a wheelchair or other mobility device
• What considerations and
modifications need to be
made before the fair?
At the fair?
• Where do exhibitors
typically show these
projects?
• What accessibility issues
might exist at your
fairgrounds?
• Other considerations?

15. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Accommodating an exhibitor
who is showing rabbits
and uses a wheelchair or other mobility device
• What considerations and
modifications need to be
made before the fair?
At the fair?
• Where do exhibitors
typically show these
projects?
• What accessibility issues
might exist at your
fairgrounds?
• Other considerations?

16. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Exhibitor with chicken project
and severe allergies to pollen and dust and chemical
sensitivity
What would you do to accommodate this exhibitor? Can you
accommodate them?

17. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Handling the unexpected –
runaway animal in the showring
• Announcer response?
• Ring steward/manager response?
• When you see the exhibitor in the barn after the class is over,
what do you say to that person?

18. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Questions
or personal
experiences?