Paving My Own Way

CRESCO - Everybody faces roadblocks in their life, some more than others. 

And then there are those, like MaKiah Pierce, who just roll right up to the obstacle put in their way, look at the options and go into overdrive to demolish it, like a bulldozer!

Her latest plan is to get some concrete put in at the Mighty Howard County Fairgrounds between Reicks View Ag Education Center and the rabbit barn. She has shattered that goal and is now thinking bigger.

The 16-year-old sophomore at Crestwood High School has been wheelchair bound since she was two-years-old. She has cerebral palsy. But that hasn’t stopped her from living an otherwise normal life.

She has been involved in 4-H since the fourth grade. “I love the fair!,” she said. “My favorite part is showing my rabbit, Honey Bunny.” Her goal is to show sheep next year. Her mom, Rebecca joked, “She wants to show everything! I won’t let her show cows, though. They can be unpredictable.”

After the 2022 fair, MaKiah decided to do a service project to make the fair more accessible. It was hard for her to get her 500-plus pound electric wheelchair up the hill between the rabbit/poultry building to the show ring. The distance was filled with gravel. “I would have to go full speed to get up the hill, and almost run over people to get in the building,” she explained. She got stuck three times this year. 

“I also worry about people with walkers, who want to see the shows. It’s dangerous, and they could fall.”

There is a concrete sidewalk to the main entrance of the Ag Education Center, but not directly from the rabbit barn.

“My first step was the idea. Then I talked to Tom Barnes [Fair Board Secretary] and Drew Zahasky [of Mudslinger’s Construction] for an estimate. Then I put the idea out there.”

The cost for MaKiah’s project was $1,350. She explained her plan and put it out on social media on July 31. Just two days later, she had already flown past her initial goal and was adding to it.

Rebecca noted, “Melissa Blockhus of Lynch Family Companies messaged me right away and said they would donate half ($675), challenging other companies to do the same. So far, CIA Insurance, CUSB Bank, Dave and Daniell Gosch and an anonymous donor have given.”

The entire family has gotten involved in the project. They started making and selling t-shirts almost right away. 

MaKiah added, “This has gone further than I thought. I first thought, ‘Let’s see if people are interested.’” And boy were they!

“Within two days, we had 40 orders and are now over 60-70 that have sold,” said Rebecca.

MaKiah and her mom came up with the logo. It has “Paving my own way” above the silhouette of all the animals shown at the fair — horse, cow, sheep, goat, pig, poultry and rabbit.

The family is happy for the support they have received. MaKiah said, “Thank you for every donation. I’ve met my original goal, but I want to keep going to pave other areas, to make the fair safe and more accessible for everybody.”

Rebecca agreed. “The best part of this is the community support. It is insane, the number of people who have stepped up. We have a special little community here.”

“Yes.” MaKiah added. “My community gives me a lot of support, and I love that.”

This spirited 16-year old has had her fair share of stumbling blocks over the years, but she is overcoming all the challenges that come her way. She even has an eye on the crown — to be the Mighty Howard County Fair Queen in the next few years.

She will certainly take on that goal with bravado, just like she has her entire life.

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