The fair in brief

Oh, baby!

If you enjoy the pageantry of pageants, why not take in the Decorated Baby Pageant and the Beautiful Baby Pageant beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium. This is open to children ages 6 months to 4 years. Admission is $4 for ages 12 and up and $2 for ages 5-11. Kids 5 and younger are admitted free.

On Monday, the older youngsters vie for prizes at 6:30 p.m. Little Miss and Little Mr. Citrus County, will feature boys and girls from 5 to 9 years old. After that program will be the Preteen Beauty pageant for girls ages 10 to 13. Admission is included with the $3 gate price.

Learn and earn

The Citrus County Fair Association prides itself on the learning opportunities available to young people at the fair.

From pageants to Youth World to the Livestock Complex, scholarships, prize money and auction bankrolls many education funds for local youth.

Young women who participated in the Miss Teen Citrus and Miss Citrus scholarship pageants won money which is dedicated to their college education. Every year, the winner receives $1,500; first runner-up, $1,000; second runner-up, $700; third runner-up, $500 and two fourth runner-up awards of $300.

Winners of the Miss Citrus pageant have four years in which to use their scholarships, while winners of the Miss Teen are given eight years.

In Youth World, participants can pick up a $500 scholarship for education. The three Youth World scholarships are funded by the Antique Tractor Show and Pull that takes place in January. Additionally, premium money is given to participants who take a blue, red or white ribbon for their entry.

Young people who enter items for exhibit in Youth World are also invited to be on hand when their handiwork is critiqued by the judge, thereby picking up tips to improve future projects.

In the livestock area two $500 Dr. Dumas scholarships are awarded in honor of the county's first veterinarian, one each to 4-H and an FFA student. Also available is the Alma Rooks award of $500, provided annually by the Rooks family.

Funds for the scholarships provided by the Fair Board are not disbursed until the proof of acceptance or proof of purchase of books or payment of other college- or technical school-related costs is provided.

School days

Citrus County Students can have fun at the fair on Friday.

Friday is the annual School Day event. County students will be admitted free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The St. Petersburg Times will provide games and a special armband will be available for $14, which will allow unlimited midway rides from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pet pals

Saturday is family day at the fair. Registration for the annual Pet Show will begin at 10 a.m. The show starts at 11 a.m.

All cattle, goats and hogs must have current health papers to be eligible. All pets must be under control at all times.

There will be several contests, one of which is sure to fit Fluffy or Fido. How about the owner/pet lookalike contest. Popular theory holds that we tend to look like our pets over the years -- or perhaps it's the other way around.

Is Fluffy truly fluffy? Enter her into the furriest contest. The fat cat contest usually has a lot of participants. In the past there have been lizards, monkeys and other oddities competing for the title of biggest, smallest, funniest and even ugliest. If these don't suit you, there are even more categories available.

Entry for the pet show will be at the south Exhibitor's Gate. The show will be at the Livestock Complex.

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