County Fair Needs A Few Good Goats

The Pasco County Fair is just around the corner. The annual fair in Dade City runs from Feb. 16 to 22, and there are a lot of events on the schedule. But time is growing short for those who want to participate.

For complete rules and information or entry forms on any event, stop by the fair office at 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City or call (352) 567-6678.

Here's the rundown:

Sheep Show

The Pasco County Fair Youth Sheep Show is accepting entries from youngsters and adults throughout the state through Sunday. Entries must be postmarked by Sunday but can be hand-delivered until 11 a.m. Feb. 22. The show will run from 1 to 4 p.m. that day.

Checklist:

•$15 entry fee

•Sheep must be owned by the exhibitor for 30 days prior to the show

•Sheep must have health certificates

•Showmanship classes limited to FFA and 4-H members

Rodeo Ceremony

Organizers are looking for breast cancer survivors to participate in this year's Pasco County Fair Championship Rodeo's opening ceremony Feb. 20. Cancer survivors will wear pink, walk into the rodeo arena together and form a human pink breast cancer awareness ribbon. This is the second year the rodeo is partnering with the national "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" movement. To participate, e-mail leannemrf99@aol.com, or call the Pasco County Fair Office, (352) 567-6678.

Art Show

Pasco County artists of all ages wanting to enter works in the fair can do so between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 13 and from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 14. No preregistration is required. Late entries will not be judged. Pasco residents and students can enter their visual arts and crafts, created in the past two years.

Checklist:

•No more than five entries per exhibitor

•$10 entry fee, $5 for amateurs, no fee for K-12 students

•Previously entered items not allowed

Homemade Goods

Pasco County youth can enter their homemade works at the Youth Exhibits between 1 and 4 p.m. Feb. 13 and from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 14. Baked goods should be entered on Feb. 14. All youth through 12th grade are eligible to enter items made since last year's fair. Participants may exhibit only one item in each class of a category but may enter items in all classes. Items must remain on display until 7 p.m. Feb. 22. The fair is looking for collections, clothing and sewing, baked goods, house plants, original art, recycled products and science items.

Goat Show

The goat show will be at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 21 and is open to youth throughout the state. Entries must be hand-delivered or postmarked on or before Feb. 14. All other entries will be accepted the day of the show.

Checklist:

•$7 entry per dairy goat

•Official certificates of veterinary inspection dated not more than 90 days prior to the show, certifying animals to be free from contagious or infectious diseases

Demolition Derby

Come smash up that old Buick at the demolition derby, which will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 22. The demolition derby is open to all area licensed drivers 18 and older. Drivers who are 16 or 17 need a medical statement notarized by a parent. The entry fee is $25. The field is limited to 60 cars. All drivers must supply their own cars, and each driver can only use two cars. All drivers and cars must be entered and at the track two hours before starting time.

Grand Marshal

The fair needs a grand marshal for its Feb. 16 kickoff parade, and if you are 12 or older, it could be you.

The winner will be selected in a drawing Feb. 10. Deadline for entries is 4 p.m. Feb. 9 at the fair office.

In addition to serving as the parade's co-grand marshal, the winner will also receive two passes to opening day at the fair.

Those between 12 and 17 need a parent's signature on an entry form.

Ugly Lamps

Come show off your ugly lamps in the Back Porch area's Ugly Lamp Contest.

Pasco County residents are invited to bring their ugliest lamps, including lampshades, to the Back Porch Exhibit between noon and 4 p.m. Feb. 13. Lamps can either have been "born ugly" or "made ugly" and need to be in working order.