UPDATE: The countdown to the Schuylkill County Fair is on as Evergreen Acres Tree Farm gears up for an eventful week filled with excitement and competition. The Shealer family—Paul, Pam, and their children Chloe, Cooper, and Carter—are buzzing with activity as they prepare their animals for the fair, which begins soon.
Chloe, 15, is intensely focused on grooming her 1,400-pound Angus steer, named Whiskey, while her brother Cooper, 12, is busy hosing down his Brown Swiss dairy calf. Meanwhile, the siblings are also adjusting the feeding schedules for their hefty hogs, Fireball and Malibu, in hopes of walking away with blue ribbons in the 4-H club competition. As the fair approaches, the air is thick with anticipation, and the Shealers are feeling the adrenaline of competition.
The excitement is palpable, but not all is smooth sailing. Carter, 8, who missed the deadline for entering the competition, is already strategizing his game plan for the unofficial yet crucial fair activity, Manhunt. He’s eager to find the best hiding spots around the farm, eyeing nooks and crannies near the equipment displays and barns.
“It’s a good learning experience when you care for animals as infants and see them grow into adults,” Paul Shealer, 40, explains, reflecting on the values he aims to instill in his children. With his background as a dairy consultant and Christmas tree farmer, Paul is keen on passing down the lessons he learned during his own time in 4-H.
Chloe’s journey with Whiskey has been particularly transformative. The steer arrived at the farm weighing only 600 pounds, and under Chloe’s diligent care, he has gained nearly 800 pounds in just nine months. “Handling an animal that weighs three-quarters of a ton is a little scary,” Chloe admits, highlighting the responsibility that comes with raising livestock.
Pam Shealer, also 40, sees her children thriving in ways reminiscent of her own upbringing on a dairy farm. “They learn hard work, responsibility, and confidence,” she states, emphasizing the personal growth her children experience each year. The values of farming run deep in the Shealer family, with generations before them having competed in county fairs.
As the fair looms, the Shealers reflect on their own childhood memories. Pam recently pulled out old photographs of her time competing at the fair, prompting laughter and nostalgia from her children, who can’t help but notice how much hair their father had back then.
The Shealers took over Evergreen Acres from Paul’s parents in 2022, continuing a legacy started by Paul’s grandfather over 80 years ago. This makes Chloe, Cooper, and Carter among the fifth generation of Shealers to be involved in farming.
Cooper, who is going into sixth grade, is already adept at using a small tractor and is responsible for maintaining the farm’s 180 acres of Christmas trees. “It’s supposed to be shaped like a cone, not like a mushroom,” he explains, demonstrating his knowledge of proper pruning techniques.
The Schuylkill County Fair is more than just a competition; it’s a gathering place for families like the Shealers, offering a chance to reconnect with neighbors and celebrate a way of life steeped in tradition. “Our kids will be competing with kids whose parents we competed with when we were kids,” Pam notes, highlighting the continuity of community values.
As the Shealers prepare for this year’s fair, they embrace the challenges and joys of farm life, eager to see what this year’s competition will bring. With the fair just around the corner, the excitement at Evergreen Acres is only set to grow.
