UPDATE: The excitement is palpable at Evergreen Acres Tree Farm in Auburn, Pennsylvania, as the Schuylkill County Fair approaches, set to kick off next week. The Shealer family—Paul, Pam, and their three children—are in full swing preparing their animals for competition, revealing a vibrant, competitive spirit that characterizes this annual event.
Chloe, aged 15, is hard at work grooming Whiskey, her impressive 1,400-pound purebred Angus steer. Meanwhile, her brother Cooper, 12, is busy hosing down his Brown Swiss dairy calf, while both siblings meticulously manage the feeding schedules of their hefty hogs, Fireball and Malibu. The stakes are high as they aim for coveted blue ribbons in the 4-H club competition, with strict class weight limits pushing them to even adjust their pigs’ diets.
Adding to the family dynamics, young Carter, only 8, is eagerly awaiting his turn for competition next year due to missed registration deadlines. Nevertheless, he’s already plotting his strategy for the unofficial fair tradition of Manhunt, scouting out the best hiding spots around the farm equipment displays.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, Paul and Pam are flooded with nostalgia. Just 25 years ago, they were in the same position, raising steers and grooming dairy cows for their own 4-H competitions. Paul, now a standard dairy consultant and Christmas tree farmer, recalls his days winning blue ribbons for various animals at the fair. Pam, who grew up on a dairy farm in Berks County, shares a similar legacy, having earned her own accolades across numerous fairs.
“They learn hard work, responsibility, and confidence,” Pam reflected, noting how their children are following in their footsteps. Chloe expresses the weight of her responsibility, stating, “It’s a whole new thing. It’s a lot more responsibility.” She has nurtured Whiskey from a mere 600 pounds to his current weight in just nine months, underscoring the intense dedication required.
In a heartwarming moment, Pam shared old photos of her own childhood experiences at the fair. The family reminisced about their roots, as Paul and Pam took over the family farm from Paul’s parents in 2022. They are now fostering a legacy that could extend to a fifth generation of farmers if their children choose to continue in the family business.
Cooper, poised to enter sixth grade, is already demonstrating his agricultural acumen, driving a small tractor and managing the farm’s 180 acres of Christmas trees. His knowledge extends to the nuances of pruning, where he articulates the ideal shape of an evergreen as a cone, not a mushroom.
The Schuylkill County Fair serves as a vibrant gathering for farm families, fostering community ties and celebrating a way of life steeped in tradition. “Our kids will be competing with kids whose parents we competed with when we were kids,” Pam noted, highlighting the enduring cycle of agricultural competition.
As the fair’s opening day draws near, the Shealer family exemplifies the spirit of hard work, dedication, and community inherent in rural America. With preparations intensifying, all eyes at Evergreen Acres Tree Farm are on the prize—a blue ribbon and the cherished memories that come with it.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Schuylkill County Fair kicks off next week, promising thrilling competitions and heartfelt stories from local families!
