Summer is here, there are plenty of bugs in the air, literally swimming through the humidity, and now the Clay County Fair has rolled around again as well. There are a lot of things planned for this year’s fair.

“We’ve got a cooking contest that is in it’s second year; we are looking for contestants in that,” said Fair Board Secretary and Treasurer Marsha Craig. “We have motorcycle and ATV drag races, which is a little different from what we have had before, so we‘re excited to have those this year.”

“I think that this is something where, if you have never been to a fair and don’t know what is going on, you need to come out,” said Craig, “County Fairs are probably slowly going to become a thing of the past.”

Craig explained that while the Fair and the Fair Board are financially solvent, “We need the community and the county’s support to continue what we are doing. There is a whole lot more to this County Fair thing than people realize.”

The first fair events will be the 4H competitions for foods, clothing and public speaking which will take place at the REA Building at the Fairgrounds on Thursday evening at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, at 9 a.m. there will be a 4H Bicycle Rodeo; from 9-11 a.m. there will be 4H judging for general projects; at 1 p.m., there will be the announcements of the state fair and best in show winners; the 4H cat show will be at 3 p.m. and the dog show will be at 3:30 p.m.

On Sunday, at 12 p.m. all 4H livestock must be in place; from 12-3 p.m. is 4H livestock weigh-in; from 1 to 5 p.m. will be the Clay County Fair’s second annual cook-off, call M. Tolliver for details at 662-3271; at 4 p.m., there is a mandatory 4H livestock exhibitor meeting in the 4H show ring; and at 6 p.m. there will be ATV and motorcycle races.

On Monday, at 9 a.m. will be the 4H Beef Show; at 2 p.m. will be the 4H rabbit show; at 3:30 p.m. will be the 4H Poultry auction; at 5 p.m. will be the Cloverbud Livestock Show; at 6 p.m. will be the Little Miss Pageant; at 7 p.m. will be the Junior Miss Pageant; finally, from 8-10 p.m. will be the 4H swim party.

Tuesday will kick off with the 4H swine show bright and early at 8 a.m.; Open and junior Beef Judging at 8 a.m.; at 11 a.m. will be the 4H sheep show; the 4H goat show will be at 1 p.m.; at 3 p.m. will be the 4H Showmanship Sweepstakes; from 3 to 7 p.m. will be the Farm Bureau Blood Drive and Ice Cream Social; DAS*zle Dance and Tumble performance will be free on the stage at 6 p.m.; also at 6 p.m. will be the open sheep show; Lastly, at 7 p.m. is the Queen Contestants pie auction.

On Wednesday, things will begin at 8 a.m. with the Junior Swine Show, followed by the Junior Sheep Show, which is, in turn, followed by the Junior Goat Show; at 1 p.m. will be the Lawn Mower and tractor driving contest; 2 p.m. will be the Farm Bureau Ag Olympics and 4H Fun Day; from 4 to 7 p.m. will be the sixteenth annual 4H Barbecue; and, at :30 p.m. will be the 4H livestock auction.

Thursday’s schedule includes Open Dairy Judging at 8 a.m. and the 4H Horse and Mule show and the Clay County Saddle Club at 6 p.m.
On Friday, the Clay County Fair Queen Pageant will take place at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, there will be a demolition derby at 2 p.m.

This year’s Miss Clay County Candidates are: Samantha Pierson, 20, daughter of Lisa Pierson and Raymond and Chris Pierson who is sponsored by Total Transformations by Tonya; Avery Peters, 18, daughter of Jake and Judy Peters, who is sponsored by Stacey Earleywine at Cuttin’ Up and by Johnson’s Custom Photography; Megan Kendrick, 19, the daughter of Kevin and Nancy Kendrick, who is sponsored by No More Nicotine; Danielle McGrew, 18, daughter of Joe and Barbara McGrew, who is sponsored by Dennis Grahn, CPA; Jessica Meyer, 16, who is the daughter of Roger and Bobbi Meyer and who is sponsored by Frutiger’s Cleaning Service of Flora and by Silgan Plastics; Cassie Oswald, 20, daughter of Chuck and Maria Oswald, who is sponsored by the Eyecare Office of Dr. Scott Wooley and by Speedy’s Used Cars; Cara Smith, 18, daughter of Chuck and Christina Smith, who is sponsored by Clay County State Bank; Elizabeth Burkett, 17, daughter of Jerry Burkett and Tammy Wells, who is sponsored by Flora and Clay County ESDA; Lacey Lehman, 18, daughter of John and Lisa Bayler and Gary Lehman, who is sponsored by Sycamore Construction; and Alysa Sharp, 18, the daughter of Vicky and Rick Sharp, who is sponsored by Welty’s Chiropractic and by Steve Lewis Construction.

The 2009 Junior Miss Clay County Candidates are Madi Harrison, 14, the daughter of Doug and Kim Harrison and Sonja Harrison, both of Louisville; Kylie VanDyke, 13, the daughter of Kevin and Kim VanDyke of Louisville; Alexis Shock, 12, the daughter of Stephanie Shock and Jason Baker of Xenia; Morgan Kitley, 13, the daughter of Kent and Tisha Kitley of Flora; Ciara Herring, 11, the daughter of Rich and Karen Herring of Flora; Katie Becker, 12,  the daughter of Wayne and Diane Becker of Flora; Hannah Dulaney, 11, the daughter of Sam and Amy Dulaney of Clay City; Lexus Kohn, 11, the daughter of Brian Kohn of Flora; and Makayla Schroer, 11, the daughter of Katherine Ayer of Xenia and James Schroer of North Carolina.