The main attractions are still a week away, but some judging began last month for this year’s Douglas County Fair with the horticulture contest followed by today’s dog and pet shows.

When the fair is over, more than 440 4-H members will have participated in the fair, and more than 5,400 entries will have been judged. In addition, non-4-H members also will have participated in various open class contests.

This year’s fair returns with old favorites, such as the Aug. 5 demolition derby, as well as something new: the Missouri State Tractor Pullers Assn. Hot Rod and Tractor Pull, to take place Aug. 6.

“The trucks and the tractors are all souped up with the great big engines,” said fair board secretary Margaret Kalb. “There will be a lot of noise and a lot of power.”

This summer will be the first time the tractor hot rods have appeared at the fair, and organizers said they hoped it would be as popular as the demolition derby. The derby routinely sells out, drawing about 3,000 people to the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds rodeo arena, 21st and Harper streets.

The 4-H pet show will be at 9 a.m. today, followed by the dog show at 2 p.m. A variety of “hand animals” are expected for the pet show, Kalb said. The shows will be in fairgrounds building 21S.

• Douglas County Fair Schedule of Events
• Douglas County Fair Web site

“We run the gamut, from snakes to crabs to hamsters and lizards, and even chinchillas,” Kalb said.

Fashion review judging takes place Monday, and a 4-H fashion show will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The public is invited.

“We put on a real fashion show with a theme, narrative and music, just like the big ones,” Kalb said. “Each 4-Her is allowed to model one of their outfits for the show.”

Thursday through Sunday, July 31, will bring a variety of horse shows and contests.

The Douglas County Fair Board tries to schedule the fair at the same general time each summer, but the schedule also sometimes depends on when area schools restart. The board tries to keep some time between the fair and the start of school, said Jim Gabriel, board president.

The fair also has to be scheduled around the arrival of the carnival, Gabriel said. The carnival will be in operation the nights of Aug. 3-6.

Some judging events and shows have to be held early because there are so many events and 4-H members are involved in so many of them, Gabriel said.

“There is just so much going on,” he said.

A complete list of fair activities and other information can be found at www.dgcountyfair.com.