Quiet ride time started in 2017 at the Jackson County Fair, giving individuals with special needs their own time in the afternoon to enjoy rides and games on the midway.
Quiet barn time was added in 2019, as 4-H’ers brought livestock to the show arena and interacted with those with special needs.
Both events will be offered again this year, but now, they are on the same day.
Barn time will be from 10 a.m. and noon July 29 in Show Arena 1, and rides and games will be available from 2 to 4 p.m. on the midway.
Tom Ritz, a member of the Jackson County Fair Association board, said Melanie O’Neal with The Arc of Jackson County and Mental Health America of Jackson County had requested the two events be offered on the same day. In the past, quiet ride time was on Tuesday afternoon and quiet barn time was on Friday morning.
“We thought that made a whole lot of sense,” Ritz said.
This year, parking will be available at Gate 6 off of County Road 100S on the far east side of the fairgrounds in Brownstown.
“Big plus for Poor Jack Amusements. That’s just absolutely amazing that they do that for our community,” Ritz said of opening some of the rides and games for free for the kids and adults. “It’s fantastic to see the people be able to take advantage of that. … Our queen and court participate in it. It’s just such a positive event.”
In the two hours between the events, Ritz encourages attendees to visit the local food booths to make purchases and look around the buildings at the fair.
“There will be a lot of good food for them to participate in,” he said.
Ritz also praised the 4-H’ers and club leaders for organizing quiet barn time again this year.
Jason Wynn, who is involved in the Jackson County 4-H Goat Club and Jackson County 4-H Council, created that event. Several people came by the barn in the two years that has been offered, and he would like to see more this year since quiet ride time is on the same day.
“Hopefully, just the partnership with Melanie, we can build it even more and get more involvement in that,” he said.
In the past, he said it was difficult for some people to bring clients or family members to the fairgrounds on a second day.
“In July, it’s hot, so what can we do to combine it all and get it at one time where they can go and have a day of it and have fun?” Wynn said.
He was glad to see people pull together to make it happen this year.
That includes the 4-H’ers, who in the past have gotten a lot out of the volunteer opportunity because of the interaction with the special needs population and the break before supreme showmanship competitions and Battle of the Barns that night.
“My goat club kids, they like that interaction of bringing their animals in, and it’s one of the things I try to promote within the club,” Wynn said.
Wynn and Chadd Rogers are both school resource officers for the Seymour Police Department and involved with the Project Lifesaver program, and information about the latter will be available at quiet barn time, too.