Gray or silver hair is as common a sight as wispy new curls on nearly bald babies. Scooters are almost as prevalent as strollers, and walkers come in every age in between.
But the family tradition is not just about fairgoers. It’s also well represented in the participants. Award-winning homemakers, artists and others pass on their skills to their young ones, who pass them on in turn.
 A Washington Parish Fair family gathers in the livestock barn Thursday. They are, back row from left: Marleigh Schilling, Marissa Schilling, Dusty Schilling, Ethan Schilling, Katie Miller, Payton Miller, Sally Ann Miller. Front row, from left: Corey Schaver and Brady Miller. Advertisement |
On Thursday morning, Donnie Schilling, 76, a second-generation dairy farmer sat talking with his brother, Doc, 78, while his great grandson, Brady Miller, 11, was showing a cow in the adjacent arena.
He said his family has been showing livestock at the fair since the 1960s when his own children were in 4-H.
“It’s been a long time,” said Schilling. “And it’s taken all of us. We have to hurry up so we can get through and go home and milk.”
Doc piped in, “That’s not so bad when you live in Franklinton, but when you live in Baton Rouge… .”
Schilling said that’s OK.
“I’ve always enjoyed it,” he smiled. “October is show time.”
As Schilling spoke, he watched a much younger great grandson, Ethan, scoop cow feed in a pen across the dirt aisle. He said the child’s father, Dusty, had offered him a chance to show a cow earlier, but he refused.
Schilling is not sure if Ethan will continue the family fair tradition, but Brady certainly has it in his blood. As he returned to the family area among the pens in the livestock barn pulling a brown and white cow, he had good news for the men who sat and waited.
“I just got reserve grand champion,” said Brady.
That surely couldn’t hurt.
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