Two friends in 4H prep for Yuma County Fair and help spread kindness

This week for the Bright Side we meet two best friends who are showing animals at the Yuma County Fair.

Maria Sodari has been showing swine in 4H since she was nine-years-old. As for her best friend Jazmin Floyd , this is her first year showing a rabbit.

The two aren’t letting life’s obstacles and their exceptionalities keep them from being like every other teenage girl.

“It’s so great because they appreciate all the things that so many people take for granted,” Tricia Severs, their teacher and the 4H leader for kids with special needs.

A sight of pure joy in Jazmin’s face as she correctly identifies a part of the body on her rabbit.

“When I watch either of them show I’m very prideful and very emotional and I’m just so proud of what they can do and that we’re focusing on what they can and not what they can’t do,” Severs said.

Many people have seen how these girls bring out the best in others.

“I’ve been helping her for three years now with her pig, I help her walk with it, I help her clean her pen and feed them sometimes if she struggling I’ll help her and say Maria do this so your pig will do good in fair,” Aleri Castillo, Maria’s cousin, said.

The beautiful thing is these girls fit right in with everyone else in 4H.

“For Maria, it really shows her that she can do things also that she is not held back because of her down syndrome,” Maria’s mother said.

Severs, who has both girls in her class, has seen the major difference 4H has made in their lives.

“I’ve had Maria in my class for two years,” Severs said. “Maria is extremely independent … she has been doing her pig long before I came into the picture but she is phenomenal and she cheers at school,” she said. “She does everything any other kid could ever do so I don’t do much with Maria in 4H except for cheer her on,” she added.

Last year, Maria won a purple ribbon, meaning she got first place in the showman ring. These girls are really breaking barriers.

“For Jazmin, every Saturday, we go over rabbit parts of the body,” Severs said.

Jazmin uses an iPad to communicate to the judges what she is showing.

“She’s been doing this way longer than I have and I was just really impressed that she can actually do this and I was like if she can do it then I can do it too,” Maria’s cousin, Aleri said.

Through this program, the girls have not only gotten the chance to fit in with everyone else and they have truly touched the lives of those around them.

“I’m just really proud of them,” Severs said. “They make me a better person.”

You can see the girls showing their animals at the Yuma County State fair April 3rd through the 8th.

Also, there is a mentorship program called The Special Showman where students can volunteer to help mentor other students with exceptionalities. For more information on this program contact Tricia Severs at tsevers@yumaunion.org