Among the prize-winning zucchini and doilies and traditional cow-milking and canine shows, fairgoers can expect, once again, a new attraction.
The 49th annual Howard County Fair, opening tomorrow through Aug. 20 in West Friendship, has added an antique tractor show and pull to its long roster of events.
"There's always new ideas the board members come up with," said the fair president, Rob Moxley of Glenwood.
"We don't try to reinvent the fair from year to year. We keep a lot of traditions going and family entertainment. But it's always fun to have something new."
Last year, the fair introduced a "Touch Me Tent" for children, an educational exhibit featuring exotic and familiar animals.
Five years ago, the fair added pig racing, one of its most popular draws.
"A number of board members had seen the pig races at other fairs and felt it was a fun attraction, especially for children," Mr. Moxley said.
"Similarly, last year, we thought the petting zoo would be a good addition for younger children.
"We didn't want to compete with the livestock shows, but the petting zoo is different. Children can go in and handle them and feed them. They can't do that with cattle tied up in the barn."
Fair organizers expect at least 100,000 visitors to sample the new and traditional events, including a midway of rides and games, no matter Mother Nature.
"The weather is always good for the fair," Mr. Moxley said.
"We have some of our best people working on the weather. We have a lot of exhibits indoors, so people shouldn't be discouraged from coming."
About 3,000 exhibitors will display more than 10,000 exhibits -- from livestock and chickens to clothing and food.
Premiums totaling $165,000 will be awarded to winners in open class and 4-H shows.
This year, antique tractors and farm equipment, circa pre-1960, will be displayed daily by the Maryland Two-Cylinder Club.
The exhibit, said club president and board member Grant Hill, is actually a nod to fairs of old, where farm equipment was regularly displayed.
"They're from a bygone era," he said. "It is something neat to see. People will come and say, 'I remember when they used to have these.' "
The club's 100 members, from Howard, Frederick, Carroll and Montgomery counties, collect and restore John Deere tractors.
"They are famous for their putt-putt sound," said Mr. Hill, who keeps 15 of his own antique tractors on his Lisbon farm.
"Board members thought it would be an interesting addition to the fair for kids to see a full-sized tractor. Most tractors today are diesel and six-cylinder."
About 15 different pieces of vintage farm equipment such as combines, manure spreaders and corn planters will be hooked to some of the tractors.
Also, small engines will run several small pieces of farm equipment such as a corn sheller.
Antique tractors not on display will compete in a tractor pull at 3 p.m. Aug. 20. A weight sled will be pulled to determine which tractor has the most power.
About 70 tractors will compete in seven classes during the four-hour event. The tractors have to be at least 39 years old, dating back to 1955. Weighing from 2,500 to 10,000 pounds, "they will pull up to 30,000 pounds," said board member Bill Barnes of Lisbon.
The tractor pull will follow an old-fashioned horse pull that begins at 11 a.m.
The Touch Me Tent, presented by the Catoctin Mountain Zoo Park of Thurmont, will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
"We're back by popular demand," said N. Carole Brown, associate director of the zoo. "People called and asked if we're coming back. We had a marvelous crowd last year."
Seventy-five animals, including the South American tortoise, South American llama, Barbados sheep, African pygmy goat, ball python and Vietnamese potbelly pig, will share the limelight with the rabbit and guinea pig.
Five- to 15-minute educational programs about the zoo and the fair animals will be followed by question and answer periods.
Numerous signs also will be displayed in the tent and throughout the fair grounds.
"Taming of the Wild" signs, describing each of the zoo animals, will also explain the difference between beef and dairy cows.
Wooden signs, placed by farm animal stalls, will show the family connections between the exotic animals and their livestock descendants.
Signs such as "Visit my ancestors at the Touch Me Tent" and "Visit my relatives in the sheep barns" should entice visitors to check out both.
The tent's "Ewe Animal You" exhibit offers a list of the correct male, female and baby names of the horse, goat, sheep, llama, swan, turkey, deer and donkey.
Under the "Have You Herd Some of These Expressions Before?" sign, explanations of the animal connection to pet expressions such as "henpecked," "quite a chick", "bull headed" and "Italian stallion," will be posted.
"Last year people were coming up with their own," Ms. Brown said. "Expressions like 'goose me' and 'rambunctious.'"
Other fair highlights include the time-honored pig races at Porkchop Downs, presented by Bob Hale Pig Racing Stables Inc. of Missouri.
An assortment of Yorkshires, black and white spotted, black and white belted and Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs with names such as Arnold Swarzenhogger, Albert Einswine, Tammy Swinette and David Litterman, will go for the cookie in daily competitions.
The East Coast Miniature Horse Club Show will showcase about 50 miniature horses from New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Maryland at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The "minis," under 34 inches tall, will show and drive carts.
"We will have some babies, 18, 19 inches, too," said Dottie Niznik of the Show Pros, a Columbia-based company that has arranged the event for the last four years.
"Visitors ooh and ahh," Ms. Niznik said. "I've seen some of the horses go home in the back seat of cars."
Visitors can also ooh and ahh the annual farm queen contest at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Going for the tiara are Carrie Brown, 16, of Glenelg; Alison Mitchell, 17, of Columbia; and Rebecca Reinhardt, 17, of Mt. Airy.
The queen speaks at elementary schools, civic groups and agricultural functions. She will also compete for Maryland Farm Queen on Aug. 28.
While each contestant receives money and jewelry, the queen also walks off with a silver tray and tiara.
The tiara, created and donated by Littman's Jewelers in Carroll County who this year has donated tiaras to all 23 counties, will be worn at state functions such as the Maryland Farm Bureau Convention in December at Ocean City.
The queen will alternate the tiara with a crown, donated by Groomes Jewelers of Ellicott City last year, that will be passed from queen to queen.
"The crown will just be worn in Howard County for Howard County Farm Queen and county functions," said Merhlyn Barnes of Lisbon and chairman of the Howard County Farm Bureau Women.
This year's other big draw is expected to be the cattle, sheep and swine shows.
"We expect a record number of livestock exhibitors this year," Mr. Moxley said.
The breeding cattle division will showcase 125 head of beef, 35 more than competed in the last four years.
The cattle division will feature the Angus; the dairy category will feature the Ayrshire and Round Swiss.
"Feature breed premium awards are doubled for that breed," said Dale Hough, a board member and open class beef superintendent who lives in Lisbon.
"The Angus is a popular breed in this area," added Mr. Moxley.
"We will have as many animals as the fair can accommodate."
For the swine swooning set, the 4-H Swine Show is "always a lot of fun," Mr. Moxley said.
"People enjoy seeing the '4-Hers' work with their animals and try to control them while they're being judged."
Other entertainment could be found at the Variety and Talent Show at 8 p.m. Thursday. "There's always a lot of variety and sometimes some talent," Mr. Moxley said.
The grand opening parade and 11th Annual West Friendship Volunteer Fire Department's Parade will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, Grand Opening Day.
The 49th annual Howard County Fair will run from tomorrow through Aug. 20 at the county fairgrounds in West Friendship. Gates open at 8 a.m.
The midway is open from the afternoon to 11 p.m. tomorrow; from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 19; and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 20.
"All you can ride day," for $10, will be from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.
General admission is $3; tickets for seniors are $2; children under 12 attend free.
Information: 442-1022.