BLOOMINGTON - Katie Sandage lives for fair week. "I look forward to it all year. I have a countdown on my board - 365 days," said Sandage, 13, of Bloomington.

After one fair season ends, the Towanda 4-H member immediately begins to get ready for the next year. She has to work that far in advance to finish all of the projects she submits for the McLean County Fair at Bloomington's Interstate Center.

This year, Sandage originally enrolled in 101 4-H events. She will have competed in 90 projects and shows by week's end. Her projects cover more than 30 subject areas, including horses, dogs, cats, electricity, foods, flowers and visual arts.

"I just like it," Sandage said. "It's fun."

The average number of projects 4-H members submit each year is 13, said Theresa Chambers, 4-H community worker in the University of Illinois Extension McLean County office. Chambers didn't know if Sandage's total was the most projects ever submitted, but it is the highest total this year.

"She's definitely taking all the projects she can," Chambers said.

The fifth-year 4-H fair participant entered seven projects her first year and added more and more new exhibits each year to get to the 100 mark this season.

Sandage works on her 4-H projects on weekends, after school and during school vacations - and between her many other extracurricular activities, including track, volleyball, cheerleading, band, dance and gymnastics. Rod Sandage said his daughter also gets straight A's in school.

This week, Sandage was unable to compete in the horse jumping category as planned because she sprained her ankle in cheerleading camp last week. A few of her flowers and vegetables didn't turn out, and Wednesday's rain destroyed her hay crop.

Still, her fair schedule kept her running around the exhibit hall and the outside arenas, especially for check-in on Tuesday and 4-H project conference judging on Wednesday. She described that first day of the fair, when she had more than 50 projects being judged, as crazy. She missed visiting with the judges in about 15 projects.

"I had a competition every five minutes - plus I had to ride the horse - so I didn't get to all of them," Sandage said.

Sandage is able to accomplish so many projects because of her organizational skills and advance planning, said Kathy Schultz, leader of the Towanda 4-H club.

The teen doesn't sacrifice quality for quantity, either, Schultz said.

"She usually gets rated very well," she said.

After the fair's first day, Sandage had received a lot of A's and a few B's. She received Best of Show for flowers, quilting and fishing projects. She also racked up seven Reserve Best of Class and six Best of Class awards.

Her favorite exhibits are any of those involving her appaloosa horse, Buddy, which she bought around Christmas with her own money, winnings from past 4-H fairs. She also particularly enjoys flowers, quilting, knitting and crocheting.

Sandage doesn't know exactly how many projects she'll enter next year, but the total will be up there.

"It'll probably be right around 100," Sandage said. "It's just a fun number."

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Sunday's lineup

The McLean County Fair ends its five-day run today at the Interstate Center in Bloomington. Here is what you need to know:

Highlights: Free admission after 3 p.m.; Guitar Hero contest, noon; carnival and on-ground entertainment, noon to 10 p.m.; "Last Blast" special, 7 to 10 p.m. ($10); 4-H projects released, 5 p.m.

Admission: $5, adults; $3, children ages 6-12; children 5 and younger, free. Extra fees apply for some events.

Parking: Free

Free daily entertainment: All the 4-H exhibits, petting zoo, live alligator show, comedy and magic shows, face painting, antique tractor display, dog agility demonstration, emergency services display, chainsaw carving, strolling clown, balloon artists, Children's Discovery Museum exhibit, more.