NORWICH – As the Great New York State Fair kicks-off today, hundreds of thousands of people look forward to the attractions, the rides, the games and the best talent New York has to offer. However, for the Evans family in Norwich, traveling to the state fair means a chance to put months of hard work to the test during the state’s largest open jersey show.
Keith Evans and his two daughters, Kara and Emily, are in the final prep stages to showcase their animals on the state’s biggest stage. The three spent the summer traveling to local events including the Afton Fair and the Otsego and Chenango County fairs, competing in open jersey shows and tending to the animals. In July, they competed in Cooperstown during the second largest junior show in New York (the first being the state fair). Kara Evans – 13 years old and an active member of the Chenango County 4-H – received top honors in her class when she showed her jerseys in the two county fairs, allowing her to move on to bigger competitions. Now, with the help of her father and seven-year-old sister Emily, she’s preparing to lead six of her prize-winning jerseys into the statewide spotlight during the New York State Fair.
“Every sport has a finale,” explained Keith Evans. “The state fair is a huge, much different playing field. It’s like the finale for what their doing ... They’ve put a lot of hours and a lot of work into this all summer,” he said. “This is a chance for them to show off the work that they’ve put into it.”
Kara and Emily began training for open jersey shows in April, leading their animals around the yard at their home in the Town of Norwich, perfecting the mechanics of composure and showmanship that judges look for during each competition. So many hours were spent practicing that a beaten circle dirt path took shape in the yard, remembered Keith Evans. “There’s a lot of hours that have gone into this,” he said, “but this is our summertime thing.”
While competing at the state level is a huge honor, this isn’t the first time the family has done it. In fact, this marks Kara’s third year going on to the state fair, with a little coaching from Keith, and Emily – who is still too young to take part in 4-H competitions – offering a helping hand wherever possible.
“I like the showmanship,” she said, adding that after her success at the nearby county fairs, she feels confident about competing next week against others from across the state. The biggest obstacle to overcome, she admitted, is her own nerves. “When you go to the state fair and do well, you know you’ve got a good animal,” she said.
Although competing is a big deal, there is much more reason to show at the state fair. Said Keith Evans, “What draws the kids are the friendships they make. They get to develop an awesome rapport of work and pride and relationships, and that’s what it’s all about. They all work hard and show against each other, but at the end of the day, they’re friends.”
If all goes well at the fair, the Evans family is looking ahead to other shows in Harrisburg, Pa. and the biggest open jersey show in Louisville, Ky.