A New Kind of Champion Night at the 4H Arena

Wednesday evening at the 4H arena looked a little different this year — and that was entirely the point.

For the first time at the Western Montana Fair, Frenchtown 4H and FFA hosted the Buddy Barrow Show, pairing young people with special needs alongside 4H members who served as their mentors in the show ring.

Every buddy who stepped into that arena went home a first-time show champion — belt buckles included.

How the Program Came Together

The idea grew out of a gap in the local 4H calendar.

When Christian Thorness realized that without the Montana Royal Junior Livestock Show there would be no dedicated event bringing special needs participants into the 4H arena, he set out to build one — with support from Missoula County.

He connected with Inga Lake, who had helped run a similar program through Montana Royal, and together they shaped the Buddy Barrow Show into what debuted this week at the fair.

Mentors, Pigs, and a Little Bit of Magic

The program pairs participants who may have a disability that would make a traditional livestock project difficult with 4H mentors who bring trained pigs into the ring.

For the Frenchtown 4H and FFA members who stepped up as mentors this year, it was a chance to put the leadership side of 4H into practice in a very real way.

Mentor Kylee Deboo put it simply: the buddies got access to something they thought was out of reach — and then they did it anyway.

First-Time Champions with Belt Buckles to Prove It

One buddy named Jake summed up the night with three words about his mentor's pig Buttons: 'Buttons is Love.'

Another buddy, Regan, came away with fresh enthusiasm — noting that a grandparent who farms sheep and chickens suddenly made a lot more sense as a connection to this world.

These weren't just feel-good moments; they were genuine first-time competitive experiences in a real show arena.

What's Next for Buddy Barrow

The program isn't stopping at the Western Montana Fair.

Buddy Barrow is also scheduled to appear at the upcoming Northwest Montana Fair and the North Idaho State Fair, with organizers hoping to keep the momentum building year after year.

Show promoter Inga Lake described the energy around the program as something that's already taken on a life of its own — and the goal now is simply to let it grow.

A Community Gathering Around Something Good

Thorness told reporters that one of 4H's core gifts is its ability to build community — and the Buddy Barrow Show is doing exactly that.

A circle of buddies, mentors, families, and supporters has formed around the program in a way that feels organic and lasting.

For the full story as reported by MTN News, head over to KPAX.