Ventura County Fair unveils exciting lineup

Entries for the Ventura County Fair will be accepted in most categories on Fri., Sat., Sun., July 21 through 23. There is no fee to enter except in large and small livestock or the horse shows.

Entry categories are: 4-H and Grange, academic rodeo, agriculture, amateur art, fishes and friends, floriculture, gem and mineral, hobbies, home arts, horse show, large livestock, photography, professional arts, small livestock, Uncle Leo's barn and the youth division.

Special dates for entry in certain of these categories as well as all of the rules can be found in the entry guide, which is available in hard copy in all of the usual locations throughout Ventura County or in a printer-friendly format online at www.venturacountyfair.org.

The Ventura County Fair will be staged from Aug. 2 to 13 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, near the ocean in the city of Ventura. The theme for this year's fair is "Heart of the Country." More information is available by calling (805) 648-3376.

Charlie Daniels Band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Banda Cuisillos, Wynonna, Bobby Vinton, All American Rejects, Foreigner, and Creedence Clearwater Revisited are the headline entertainment acts scheduled to appear during the 12 days of the fair.

Other attractions include motorsports races on Wed. and Thurs., Aug. 2 and 3; the junior livestock auction on Wed., Aug. 9; Fiesta del Charro on Fri., Aug. 11; and the PRCA Rodeo on Sat. and Sun., Aug. 12 and 13.

"We are very excited to celebrate another year with such a great lineup of entertainment. These shows, along with our agricultural exhibits, home arts handiworks, carnival and food offerings and much more will no doubt bring out the groups of friends and families that make the fair Ventura County's No. 1 summertime destination," said Barbara BoesterQuaid, CEO for the State of California's 31st District Agricultural Association, which operates the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Every year people come to the Fair wondering, what's new this

year? Fair organizers promise that there are a lot of new fun things to look forward to.

Jousting will be presented for the first time at the Fair in the Morgan Horse Show Arena on Monday and Tuesday. This medieval style event features skill at arms equestrian games, choreographed jousting and sword fighting, ring spearing, spear throwing, shield quintain hitting and tournament jousting.

The Fair will feature some exciting new treats in the food court including Pink's Hot Dogs. For the more exotic taste buds, Chilaquiles with red chile sauce make their debut at Rose's Mexican Food.

In the Midway Magic Carnival, thrill seekers will enjoy the exciting Pole Position Roller Coaster. The Wind Surf ride is a great new addition to the only carnival on Surfer's Point. All of the favorite rides will be there for those who have been looking forward to the carnival all year.

Ventura County Fair's "Read and Ride" is a program in which children read books to earn carnival rides. "We think reading is fun-damental!" said BoesterQuaid, "more than 1,000 kids have read two to four books each and sent us book reports to earn carnival ride tickets!"

The Academic Rodeo has a new younger category of competitors called The Ponies. Fourth and fifth graders will compete in math, geography, history, current events, science and much more.

The new Picasso's Place in the Children's Art Center is a new feature that will introduce children to the world of fine art and will inspire their creativity.

New contests will include a mutton bustin' contest at the Flying U Rodeo, a kid's tractor sled pull in Uncle Leo's Barn, a goat and lamb obstacle course and costume contest, a newspaper costume contest, and a decorated shoe contest. Children are encouraged to participate.

The Floriculture Department has more handicap access, to ensure that everybody gets to see the beautiful flowers and gardens on display.

The turtle and tortoise show is on the last weekend of the Fair in the Fishes and Friends Department.

Additional information about the Ventura County Fair is available at www.venturacountyfair.org or by calling the fairgrounds offices at (805) 648-3376.

The 2006 Fair poster design, illustrating the "Heart of the Country" theme, features a handsewn quilt made by Ventura County Fairgrounds' exhibit supervisor Kim Leach.

Leach began her career with the Ventura County Fair as a volunteer for the local fuchsia society in the floriculture department in 1979, when the fair was in October. Eventually she became chief clerk for the floriculture department, then office assistant for the sales manager.

In her current position Leach is responsible for supervising all aspects of the competitive exhibits program including preparation and distribution of the entry guide, supervising all department superintendents and their staff, managing the junior livestock auction office, issuing premiums to exhibitors, and planning the annual volunteer recognition event.

She took up quilting through classes at Ventura Adult Continuing Education in 1997.