P earl, the Holstein calf, was supposed to be a gift to the president of the United States. The calf had won “Best of Show” in her class at the Maryland State Fair in 1957, and she was meant to be sent to Gettysburg to become part of President Dwight Eisenhower’s prize-winning herd.

However, when officials with the Maryland State Fair offered to buy the Holstein for $1,000 (about $11,500 in 2025 dollars), Sharon Kay Stauffer, the 9-year-old girl who owned Pearl, said “no” — and broke down in tears. Even her mother shed some tears over the thought of selling the calf.

See Full Page