DEVON SHOW SECRETARY DEMANDING JOB

DEVON, Pa—Serving as the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair show secretary is a demanding job for four months of the year, growing more and more hectic as show time nears, at which time the office staff swells to six. Devon, which runs May 24 to June 3, benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital to which it has donated over $14 million. Kathy Gillmer, a mainstay of the Devon Horse Show for almost a quarter of a century, is retiring after this year.

Gillmer started as recorder in the Gold Ring but soon moved into the position she holds now, secretary to the managers. “Devon is a huge endeavor,” said Gillmer. “In the beginning, I did everything.” She said that when she took over a secretary, things were at sixes and sevens. “Honey (Craven, show manager at the time) interviewed me,” said Gillmer. “Afterwards, we walked into the office, and he said, `Can you straighten this out?’ It looked like a bomb had gone off in there. There were entry blanks everywhere. My first job was to get the house in order.”

When I first started as secretary, I began working on Devon in February,” said Gillmer. “Now, with everything on computers, I don’t start until March.” Gillmer said her duties were much broader before everything was computerized. “I sent out the prize lists and put the entries in as they came in,” said Gillmer. “Just opening the entries takes time, attaching the checks to the entries takes time.”

Katie Benson, who is working at Devon this year, will take over Gillmer’s job next year. “I had a long discussion with Katie,” said Gillmer. “I had worked with her as a steward. I was impressed with how she handled people, her knowledge and how organized she is.” “At first she said no to the job, but she finally said yes,” Gillmer said. “She started this year, and she’s made the office a friendly place to work again.” “I decided to retire when Katie said she’d do it,” said Gillmer. “The computers began to get ahead of me, plus I like to do other things. Devon’s been a huge part of my life, but it’s time for other people to enjoy Devon, too.”

“I run six horse shows, Three Ring Circus at Radnor and the Brass Ring Horse Shows at different locations, including one of them at Devon,” she said. “I have a small barn, and I adore taking care of my own horses. There are six horses in the barn, and two of them are mine.” “I’d like to have time to enjoy my grandchildren, especially the one that rides,” she said. Gillmer has four grandchildren, including the rider, Kendell Adelberger, and her older sister, Jordan, who has sung the National Anthem at Devon for the past few years, although she won’t this year as she’ll be away at the time. “Also, Walter loves to travel,” said Gillmer of her husband who has recovered from the heart surgery he underwent last summer and who still runs his driving school. As show time approaches, more people are added to the staff until there are six in the office during the show. There are a few particularly hectic days, Wednesday when juniors arrive, Sunday when hunters and jumpers arrive, Monday when Saddlehorses arrive and Thursday or Friday when local and amateur-owners arrive. From handing out numbers to in-putting results, answering the telephone and settling disputes, it’s a very busy office from early morning to late at night.

New this year is a shuttle service to and from free parking during Grand Prix night, a service that will be much appreciated by the sell-out crowd. From 3:30 to 11:30 p.m., a shuttle will run to free parking at St. David’s Church and the Main Line Unitarian Church, and from 4:00 to 11:30 a shuttle will run to free parking at Wayne Elementary School. The Country Fair offers boutiques and rides and delicious foods for every palate, plus there are contests for hats, dresses and dogs, andcial back barn tours, so there are special events for each member of the family. Boutiques offer a vast selection of goods from clothing and accessories to jewelry, paintings, prints and sculptures, antiques, souvenirs and collectibles. Adjacent to the boutiques, there are rides and games for children of all ages. Tickets may be ordered by phone at, 610-688-2554, or online at www.devonhorseshow.org. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over. Reserved grandstand tickets are available ranging from $12 to $55 depending on the performance.