Silly Sally, with her cherry red pigtails and rainbow-scheme outfit, was born out of inspiration from Eileen Schafer's sewing teacher, who performed as a clown on the side.
Her teacher showed her a few tricks and Schafer's interest grew into what is now a hobby and a professional career. She's been performing in her 4-H group, Clover Crusaders in Jefferson City, for about 4 years with her mom, Marie Schafer. In 4-H, Schafer also sews and makes cured bacon.
The mother-daughter duo brought their act to the Jaycees Cole County Fair on Thursday, posing for pictures and doling out witty, slap-stick dialogue throughout their whole performance. Young children watching their show buckled over with fits of laughter as they pranced around in full costume.
Silly Sally is a "caricature" of Eileen's actual personality - outgoing, quick-witted and bubbly. She's the mischievous clown of the two, often pranking her partner Freckles during the acts.
"I love just getting out there and making people happy," she said. "It's cool I'm a superstar in their eyes, and they'll remember me for the rest of their life."
Schafer pulled her mom - Freckles - into the acts since she's the only 4-H member in Cole County that does clowning.
The duo have spent nearly 200 hours at workshops and conventions learning the art of clowning from professionals across the nation, and they've built relationships all over the country because of it.
Marie Schafer said she's heard some criticism it shouldn't be a paid profession, but she asserts the work is a learned art that takes skill and practice - not everyone has the personality to be a clown.
"It's not easy," Marie said. "You get kids who are scared and adults who act like they're scared. You've got to be funny and you've got a lot going on out there."
The Schafer duo even won third place from the Midwest Clown Association for a round-up group skit, a feat they are very proud of since they were up against several longtime professionals.
The activity started as a 4-H venture but has become a money-making business for Eileen Schafer, who travels around Jefferson City and parts of Mid-Missouri for paid gigs. She's branded her business Silly Sally Ink and plans to make it a career.
While entertaining audiences at the fair, she hopes it helps kids overcome their fear of clowns.
"We're not scary," she said. "There are kids that are clowns. Your best friend's mom could be a clown."
Marie Schafer added "scary" clowns are not real clowns, similar to evil doctors created by Hollywood. Real life doctors are nothing like their evil move counterparts and neither are clowns.
Learning clowning together has been a memorable mother-daughter activity, Marie Schafer said. Not all parents have the opportunity to do something like this with their child, and it's strengthened their bond.