Sunshine Class Expands in 2026
State Fair Opportunity is Just One Way to Get Involved This Year
For the last two years, Special Olympics Kentucky has supported the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Sunshine Class at the Kentucky State Fair. The Sunshine Class has given individuals with disabilities the opportunity to show a lamb in the ring at Broadbent Arena during the Fair. That event – and our support of it – will continue in 2026. However, the Sunshine Class is expanding both in number of opportunities and livestock options in 2026.
The State Fair event will be held at 9 am on Wednesday, August 26. All participants will work with an experienced mentor to show a lamb through the livestock ring and will receive a commemorative banner when they finish showing.
State Fair participants MUST register in advance to take part and registration is open now. Last year, more than 80 people took part.
See Photos from the 2025Sunshine Class
However, the State Fair is just one of four Sunshine Class opportunities the Department of Agriculture is offering this year.
The first will take place on Saturday, July 25, at the LD Brown Ag Expo in Bowling Green. Participants will be able to show either sheep or goats at the event.
The second will be the annual mock Sunshine Class and media day on Thursday, July 30, at the Franklin County Fair Grounds in Frankfort. Like the State Fair, participants will only show sheep at this event. There will be a clinic at 11 am followed by the show at 11:30.
Finally, there will be a Sunshine Class on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Kentucky Proud Livestock Classic at the Central Kentucky Ag/Expo Center in Liberty, Ky. Participants will be able to choose between pigs, sheep, goats and dairy cattle at this show.
You can sign up for any or all three of these events here.
Last year was the first that Special Olympics Kentucky partnered with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to promote the Sunshine Class. We are greatly appreciative of the Department and Commissioner Jonathan Shell for including us in this incredible event.
For more information about any Sunshine Class event, contact Kaitlin Fouts at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture at 502-234-8414 or via e-mail at kaitlin.fouts@ky.gov.