Skylar Payton (11) walking the sheep, Percy. Jordyn Leininger (11) is accompanying them on the way.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Purdue Extension of Kosciusko County created the 4-H Poss-ABILITIES program to get children with special needs involved in 4-H events.

Through Poss-ABILITIES, children with special needs are paired with current 4-H member kids of similar age to act as mentors. The mentors guide their mentees through the process of livestock animal showmanship to the panel of judges at shows and county fairs. The mentors involved in the program have experience in showmanship and are owners of the animals.

To participate in the animal showmanship, kids have to present a log with the grooming procedures they have done to the animals. Before the show, participating kids meet with their mentors at least three times to become familiar with the animals. Kids learn how to care for the animals and acquire the necessary training and practice presenting the animals.

Youth participating in the Poss-ABILITIES program are presented with opportunities to attend workshops, experience camps and complete 4-H photography, sewing, tractor, crafts and other projects. The goal of Poss-ABILITIES is to prepare youth with special needs for livestock animal ownership and to get them ready to present animals at competitive showcases.

Skylar Payton (11 years old, Pierceton) and Railly Miller (11 years old, Tippecanoe) will be showing sheep during the Sheep Show at the John Anglin Memorial arena, 5 p.m. July 13, as part of the Poss-ABILITIES program. Skylar and Railly will be accompanied by their mentors, Jordyn Leininger (11) and Elizabeth Zorn (17) respectively. The showcase will be an opportunity for the youth to demonstrate their showmanship skills and knowledge of the livestock animals.

The Leininger family, who is mentoring Skylar, own several sheep and have been involved in sheep showing for several years. They have helped Skylar find the best means of showing the sheep in her wheelchair.

During the Payton and Leininger families’ first meeting in preparation for the sheep show, Skylar’s father, Tony Payton, and Jordyn’s father, Thad Leininger, thought of a device to secure the sheep to Skylar’s wheelchair. The Leiningers also showed several of their sheep so Skylar would get used to being around them.

At the second meeting, the Leiningers picked the perfect sheep, Percy, for Skylar to show. Thad Leininger constructed a headrest to hold the sheep’s head upright while it would walk along Skylar. Skylar then took Percy for a walk, with Jordyn accompanying her. Skylar’s mom, Samantha Payton, and Jordyn’s mom, Rochelle Leininger, talked about proper attire to wear during the sheep show.

The Leiningers’ objective is to guide Skylar so she would be confident to show sheep in a regular 4-H showcase next year. Despite a cerebral palsy diagnosis, Skylar has several hobbies, creative writing and photography. Her passion for animals is obvious as she demonstrates it through her work with sheep in preparation for the sheep show.