When you think of serving your community, you may think of helping out with local food drives or cleaning up garbage, but for the Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, community service means going a step further and serving Kentucky as a whole.
Jonathan Shell is an alumnus of the Garrard County FFA Chapter in Kentucky. During his time as an FFA member, he developed the confidence to step out of his comfort zone and engage in public service.
Four years ago, Shell, along with Deputy Commissioner of Kentucky Agriculture Warren Beeler and Kentucky State Fair Vice Chairman Joe Goggins, created the Sunshine Class at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville. This class is open to anyone with special needs who would like to participate in sheep showmanship. These individuals are placed with showmen who are competing at the Kentucky State Fair and use their sheep to fully gain the experience of showing at the Kentucky State Fair. Everyone who enters this class is awarded the Sunshine Grand Champion. The showmen who lend their time and animals to this program not only help the Sunshine Class participants; doing so also benefits them. According to Shell, they never lack volunteers to help out.
The Sunshine Class started with five participants. The next year, they had 10, and the year after that, they had 60. During the third year, they partnered with the Special Olympics to help attract more support. This year, the Sunshine Class had over 80 participants.
The Sunshine Class honors participant Abby Beeler; the event was one of her favorites at the fair, and continues on for those like Abby, who found joy in this program. Shell and his partners plan to continue and expand this program by going above and beyond for these individuals. His goal is to have Broadbent Arena, located on the fairgrounds, full of supporters.
As he continues his journey to improve the Sunshine Class, Shell thinks back on what he has learned throughout his time in FFA. He believes that there is no growth in the comfort zone, and to continue growing, he must keep pushing to make this program as impactful as possible for Abby Beeler and everyone who has ever participated.
