UPDATE: The countdown is on as the Schuylkill County Fair approaches, igniting excitement at Evergreen Acres Tree Farm in Auburn. The Shealer family, led by parents Paul and Pam Shealer, is in full swing preparing for this annual event, with their children Chloe (15), Cooper (12), and Carter (8) sharing the contagious “fair fever.”
The atmosphere is electric as Chloe tends to her impressive 1,400-pound Angus steer, named Whiskey, while Cooper is busy cleaning his Brown Swiss dairy calf. The siblings are also adjusting feeding schedules for their two hefty hogs, Fireball and Malibu, in hopes of clinching blue ribbons in the 4-H club competition. Surprisingly, even pigs must go on diets to meet class weight limits.
Carter, though disappointed to miss the competition this year due to his birthday falling past the entry deadline, is eagerly strategizing for the unofficial fair highlight: the game of Manhunt. He’s already scoping out the best hiding spots among the farm equipment displays and within the fair barn.
Amid the bustling preparations, Paul and Pam reflect on their own childhood experiences in 4-H, where they learned essential life skills. Paul, a standard dairy consultant, recalls raising steers and pigs, earning blue ribbons in the past. Pam, hailing from a dairy farm in Berks County, echoes similar sentiments about the valuable lessons learned through hard work and responsibility.
As Chloe shares her journey of raising Whiskey, who arrived at the farm weighing only 600 pounds last October, she expresses the thrill and challenge of managing such a large animal. “It’s a whole new thing,” says Chloe, a sophomore at Blue Mountain High. “It’s a lot more responsibility.”
Pam, a fair enthusiast since infancy, believes her children are following in her footsteps, gaining confidence and skills year after year. “They learn hard work, responsibility, and confidence,” she states.
The Shealers, who took over Evergreen Acres from Paul’s parents in 2022, are proud to continue a legacy that may soon span five generations. Paul’s father, Paul Alan, was a third-generation farmer who dedicated his life to the family business.
Cooper, entering sixth grade, is already adept at operating a small tractor to maintain the farm’s sprawling 180 acres of Christmas trees. He demonstrates impressive knowledge about tree pruning, emphasizing the importance of shape and growth.
The Schuylkill County Fair serves as a crucial gathering point for farm families, where generations reconnect and celebrate a lifestyle grounded in tradition. “Our kids will be competing with kids whose parents we competed with,” observes Pam, highlighting the enduring bonds cultivated through these events.
As the fair draws near, the Shealer family’s preparations embody the spirit of community, hard work, and the thrill of competition. The anticipation is palpable, and the stakes are high. Expect to see them and their animals shine at the fair, where childhood memories are forged and traditions are passed down.
With the fair just around the corner, the Shealers are not only preparing their animals but also instilling lifelong lessons and values in the next generation of farmers. Stay tuned for more updates as the excitement builds for this beloved community event.
