You really have to dig a deep trench through the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ (KCSOS) archives to find the first mention of “Special People Day” at the Kern County Fair. A Bakersfield Californian story titled “500 Handicapped Children Spend Day at the Fair” was written on Sept. 26, 1963. The accompanying picture shows two members of the Kern County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, Ernie Ferguson and Cliff Neeley, watching a circus performance with six special needs children. The article hints that this was not the first year the posse had opened up the fair for deserving children. It mentions that A. C. Wynn was serving his 10th year as event chairman. That means it may have been happening as far back as 1953. Some posse veterans think it may go back further than that. Things have changed quite a bit since the 1963 article was written. Back then, the posse served “30 dozen hot dogs, gallons of milk and ice cream and soft drinks.” At the Sept. 25, 2008 Special People Day at the Fair, Kern County Superintendent of Schools' (KCSOS), statistics show the posse barbecued more than 3,000 hamburgers and hot dogs for the students, teachers and aides, with an equal amount of soft drinks and other food. Each year the nonprofit posse teams with fair officials and KCSOS to provide special needs students with this day of meaningful experiences. While the posse paid for carnival rides, bought food and cooked the lunches, KCSOS volunteers and those from other school districts bused the children in and provided supervision. The day offers much more than a free meal for the children. It is an opportunity for them to socialize and experience life outside the classroom. The opportunity helps many children with sensory problems, overcome fears when introduced to petting animals. Students with hearing and sight disorders see and hear the day in enjoyable ways others may not grasp. More