Fair season kicked off Wednesday as the Worth County Fair opened in Northwood, Iowa. It will continue through Monday with exhibits, shows and entertainment.

“The benefit is you really have no competition,” said fair manager Jerry Hopperstad of the early fair dates.

A downside had been that 4-H couldn’t judge growing vegetables because there wasn’t enough time for vegetables to grow. The solution this year is 21 garden plots that have been installed in the shape of a green 4-H symbol. This was done with the sixth-graders in mind, and 21 student gardens were judged yesterday, said Dennis Johnson, Worth County extension education director.

Another six 4-H members worked on landscaping around the fairgrounds.

Like other years, 4-H is a big part of the Worth County Fair. Johnson said Worth County’s 4-H program is the largest by percentage enrollment in the state, with 36 percent.

Exhibits and judging began Wednesday with events like the dog show and pet show, and will continue with things like the horse show 10 a.m. today, booth judging at 4 p.m. Friday and the lamb show at 4 p.m. Saturday.

The fair will end with the 4-H Livestock Ribbon Auction at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Sheltered Reality opened the grandstand last night, and the Supercross show will be in the grandstand at 7 p.m. Thursday. The tractor pull will be in the grandstand at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Chocolate Crackers will perform twice Saturday: country music at 6:30 p.m. and rock music at 8 p.m.

The demolition derby will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, and there will be a teen dance after from 9 p.m. to midnight.

The U.S. Army has a recruiting station setup with a rock-climbing wall. The Army was only at the fair one day last year “on accident,” Hopperstad said, and had such a positive response that they’ll be at the fair each day this year.

The charge for the fair is a $10 button that only needs to be purchased once and is good for each day of the fair and all the grandstand entertainment.

There will also be a dedication tour Thursday night of all the trees and other fair facilities that have been donated in memory of someone.

Children ages 2 to 10 can color a coloring book page on page 29 of the fair program and turn it in at the office for 10 ride tickets, $7.50 worth.

Northwood Fourth of July

The Northwood Fourth of July celebration will begin with a pool party for grades kindergarten through six from 5 to 7 p.m., and the pool party will continue for grades seven through 12 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Rhino will perform on Central Avenue at 9 a.m. Friday.

The Methodist Men will host a breakfast from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and the parade will follow at 11 a.m.

Following the parade, there will be carnival games, food and more in Swensrud Park. Sheltered Reality will perform by the gazebo from 1 to 2 p.m.

The Miss and Mister Northwood competition will be at 2 p.m. by the gazebo.

Richie Lee will perform in the grandstand of the Worth County Fairgrounds at 7:30 p.m., and the fireworks will be shot off by the airport at 10 p.m.’

The events come to a close Sunday with the with an outdoor worship service at 11 a.m., a noon picnic catered by Signatures in Swensrud Park and a tour of homes fundraiser for the Northwood-Kensett Spanish club.

“People just like to come out and party and have fun and see the parade. The parade’s always huge,” said Teresa George, president of the Northwood Chamber of Commerce.