CHAMPION DRIVE COMES TO WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR

  

The Brenham Independent School District has announced that they will present the “Champion Drive” for the third year in a row. The “Champion Drive” is an event in which special needs students take part in a livestock show during the Washington County Fair.

The event will take place this year on Friday, September 16th at 10:30 am at the Washington County Fairgrounds. This year 31 student participants have been matched with 56 4H and FFA buddies.

The “Champion Drive” idea was introduced to Brenham ISD in 2014 by Kyle Merten, the Alumni Relations Director for Blinn College and a Brenham High School graduate. Having worked for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for seven years, Merten experienced many programs throughout the state that could benefit Brenham ISD students. When he returned to Brenham after receiving his master’s and doctorate in agricultural education from Texas A&M, he approached Leslie Broesche, BISD Director of Special Education, with the idea. Merten and Broesche presented the program to the Washington County Fair Board to pair BISD 4H and FFA students with BISD students with special needs to give them an opportunity to participate in the fair experience. “Champion Drive” was born and the team began working on logistics.

Broesche works with Brenham ISD teachers to evaluate and choose students that are physically and mentally capable and willing to participate in “Champion Drive”. This year, 31 students ranging in age from 9-18 and representing every BISD campus have been selected to participate.

Fundraising efforts in the first year of the program produced over $10,000. This year that number has exceeded $15,000. These funds are used to purchase prizes and awards for participants, as well as provide lunch for participants, buddies, and their families. Several scholarships will also be awarded to buddy students at the end of the year.

The program is a huge effort with nearly 80 volunteers working together to prepare the livestock and help the participants get to know the animals. The day begins at 7:00 am with preparation of the animals to get them show ready by 8:30 am. Buddies arrive for a debriefing and then meet with participants to spend time in the pens getting acclimated to the animals. The “Champion Drive” event begins at 10:30 am and lasts about an hour. During that time, a specially selected judge speaks to each individual participant to provide a special moment in the spotlight. At the end of the event, lunch is served to participants, buddies, and their families in the Washington County Fairgrounds VIP room.

For more information on how to be involved in this event, contact Leslie Broesche at 979-277-3700.

What’s your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0

2 Comments

  1. This is an amazing show. Rinn showed two years and loved the pigs. This year he will not show because of aging out but he loved to show while he could. Such a great program. Should have been their years ago. Kyle does a great job.

  2. Awesome event!! I love seeing the smiles on the faces of all students. If you haven’t experienced this event please come and watch on Friday, September 16th at 10:30 a.m.

Back to top button