Goats + heart = inclusion at the California Mid-State Fair. Through the Warrior Goat program this year, kids of all abilities are getting a shot in the ring.
Making youth with disabilities, like Luke Henard and Javier Perez, feel involved and included one goat at a time, thats what the Warrior Goat program is all about.
I always had friends who did it so, you know, now I get to be a part of it, a part of that group, said Warrior Goat student Luke Henard.
The Warrior Goat program started in 2014 in Santa Barbara County. It pairs students with mentors of similar age to show them the ropes.
London Sutton was a part of making the program an initial success in Santa Barbara County and when asked if she wanted to continue in Paso Robles as Henards mentor, she couldnt turn down the offer.
Ive gotten to know Luke more, and Ive gotten to learn who Javie is, and I feel like its just connected me to a lot more people, Sutton said. Its just like really rewarding to see how all the other students in the program and FFA [Future Farmers of America], interact with them. To see that interaction, its rewarding.
Last year was the first year the Warrior Goat program made its grand entrance at the Mid-State Fair with only one student, one mentor, and of course, one single goat.
Together, the trio set a fair record for the sale of their goat.
It didnt feel real at first! Henard said. Like, it felt very like wow!
Its the students who put in all the hard work, though.
Henard and Perez have stayed at the Mid-State Fair with their buddies, Max and Sandy, named after a few other G.O.A.T.s the LA Dodgers since the fair kicked off.
Every day, theyre responsible for feeding them, bathing them, walking them, and having a little bit of something as theyre doing it
Definitely patience! said Henard.
Every time these students get onto the farm, every day theyre here up at the fair, theyre a part of this bigger team that theyre doing the same thing, and its just so rewarding, Warrior Goat volunteer Dan Sutton said. The excitement that they have about what theyre experiencing, I just I want to do it again!
Henard and Perez have already completed two rounds of the competition, including showmanship, but Saturday morning is the grand finale they will finally get to auction off their goats.