BLOOMINGTON - For Mike Swartz, the fairest season has begun. The McLean County Fair manager got his first taste of fair food and excitement at Sangamon County Fair last week and he'll likely attend at least six county fairs this year, both in- and out-of-state, to glean some of the best ideas for fair in Bloomington.

"I visit the other fairs to see how they handle traffic flow, security, dust control … to see what works and what doesn't," he said.

He's not the only one in fair mode: Ford County Fair kicks off the season Sunday in Melvin, where visitors will find carnival rides, food, livestock and 4-H demonstrations, dances, entertainment, fair queen and kiddie contests, a tractor pull, and a demolition derby.

New this year is a mechanical bull ride and remote-control NASCAR races.

"We get pretty good crowds, said Tim Muehlenpfort, Ford County fair board president. He expects between 10,000 and 12,000 visitors, depending on the weather.

At the McLean County Fair in August, Swartz continues some traditions he's established in his three years of managment. He wants fair-goers - who pay $5 for admission - to feel they really got their money's worth with all sorts of free extras.

There will be two vintage NASCAR cars, one driven by Richard Petty and one driven by Dale Earnhardt Sr.; a NASCAR simulator; face painting; caricature drawings; a country concert by Mark Wills; and a petting zoo.

The county's more than 1,000 4-H members have produced more than 13,000 entries including livestock, visual arts and food displays, said Theresa Chambers, 4-H community worker with the University of Illinois Extension-McLean County.

The horse show alone has more than 200 entries, Chambers said. The opportunity for 4-H members to lease a horse or a llama allows city kids to participate, she said. Sometimes several youngsters will show the same horse and none has the expense or space demands of owning a horse.

4-H members are ages 8 to 18. In addition, the fair will showcase about 120 Clover Buds, ages 5 to 7, who learn how to show animals and talk to judges. "These are the kind of skills that help you on the job," Chambers said.

Evan Wilcox, 17, of Bloomington has been encouraged through prizes he won previously at the fair. In visual arts, he won Best of Show ribbons twice among more than 50 entries.

The homeschooled high school senior said one of the best lessons he's learned "is learning to get a project done before deadline."

Wilcox, who will organize the 4-H Federation's ice cream eating contest this year, said he has also learned a lot about leadership.

Entertainment

Swartz, who has worked for the Farm Bureau for 18 years, looks for new acts at a Las Vegas entertainment conference and through agents, and books old favorites like tractor pulls and a demolition derby.

New this year is a live shark show by Philip Peters of Florida, whose brother provided the popular sea lion show last year.

"I wanted this guy two years ago," Swartz said of Peters and the Haai Inc. Live Shark Experience.

Some form of show or entertainment starts every 30 minutes so families get several choices during their visit.

The Muttville Comix Dog Show is also new this year. Elsewhere, fair-goers can help build bird houses for the Parklands Foundation and wood duck houses for the National Wildlife Federation. "We're building for own backyard," Swartz said.

Another event - the McLean County Idol Show - is already in the works with the first semifinalists qualifying at Miller Park on July 4. Another elimination round is set for July 15 at the Shoppes at College Hills; noon to 2 p.m. July 28 at Eastland Mall; and 3 to 5 p.m. July 29 at the Interstate Center lobby. The finals are at the fair on Aug. 2.

GO!

Central Illinois' county fair season starts Sunday in Melvin. Here's a chronological list:

• Ford County Fair: July 8 to 14, Melvin

• LaSalle County Junior Fair: July 1 to 15, Ottawa

• Livingston County Fair: July 16 to 19, Pontiac

• Farmer City Fair (DeWitt): July 17 to 21, Farmer City

• Tazewell County Fair: July 30 to Aug. 2, Pekin

• Logan County Fair: July 31 to Aug. 5, Lincoln

• McLean County Fair: Aug. 1 to 5, Bloomington

• Cullom Junior Fair (Livingston County): Aug. 8 to 11, Cullom

• Illinois State Fair: Aug. 10 to 19, Springfield

• Fairbury Fair (Livingston): Aug. 15 to 19, Fairbury

SOURCE: Illinois Department of Agriculture

On the Net

http://www.mcleancountyidol.com

http://www.mcleancountyfair.org