FREDERICK, MD- The national-award-winning City Streets, Country Roads exhibit at The Great Frederick not only offers a variety of live animal displays, but will also feature "ag-citing" hands-on activities and workshops for the entire family to enjoy. The 142nd fair, "Ag-sensuate Your Senses," runs September 17-25, 2004.

"Educational exhibits have the best effect when they are hands on," said fair board President J.R. Ramsburg, Jr. "The live animals and interactive exhibits in City Streets, Country Roads are always crowd pleasers, but the hands-on activities really make learning fun for the kids as they learn about the many facets of the agriculture industry."

There are a number of fun activities for the entire family planned during fair week. Deck out your little ones and their wagons in their finest for the decorated wagon parade and contest on Saturday, Sept. 18. Registration and check-in begin at 3 p.m. at City Streets, Country Roads, Building 44. Entries can also be pre-registered on-line at www.thegreatfrederickfair.com. There are four age divisions: 1-4 years old, 5-6 years old, 7-8 years old, and 9-10 years old. The wagon parade begins at 4 p.m. in the Machinery Row area. Wagons and their "drivers" in each age group will be judged on originality, best use of the fair theme, "Ag-sensuate Your Senses," and best overall presentation.

Bunny Burkett and her race car that runs off of ethanol will be on display Saturday, Sept. 18 and Sunday, Sept. 19, near the City Streets, Country Roads Exhibit.

Friday Kids’ Day is back in 2004, and young fair visitors can expect to be kept busy. Friday, Sept. 24 will feature non-traditional 4-H demonstrations and the annual Ag Careers Fair will also be held Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This popular event gives young agriculture enthusiasts a chance to explore the vast career opportunities in the agriculture industry. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions and guide visitors through the career event.

Also on Friday, Home Depot is sponsoring birdhouse construction as part of the Ag Careers Fair and City Streets, Country Roads. Birdhouse kits will be available at no charge to the first 100 young visitors to the Ag Careers Fair.

Saturday, Sept. 25, is full of fun activities for kids. The morning begins at 10 a.m. with the stick horse workshop and contest. Kids will have the chance to make their own stick horses and then enter them in the stick horse contest. There are four age divisions: 1-4 years old, 5-6 years old, 7-8 years old, and 9-10 years old. Entries will be judged on originality, best use of fair theme and overall presentation in each age group.

Back by popular demand, the Scarecrow making workshop begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m. in Building 28, the sheep show ring. Straw and other scarecrow supplies are provided. Sponsored by Frederick Equipment Company and The Country Peddler Show, this event is free to the first 175 people.

Saturday’s events wind down with the children’s pedal pull. Registration for this entertaining event begins at noon, or entries can be pre-registered on-line at www.thegreatfrederickfair.com. There are three age divisions: 5-6 years old, 7-8 years old, and 9-10 years old. The pedal pull contest begins at 3:30 p.m. in Machinery Row.

Other activities for the entire family will take place during the week. Local alpaca enthusiasts will be on hand at the "It’s Fiber-Optics" exhibit Saturday, Sept. 18 through Saturday, Sept. 25, to demonstrate how to spin alpaca fibers.

The City Streets, Country Roads exhibit will include live animal displays ranging from cattle to sheep and horses. Some diversified livestock will also be on display. All of the animals in the exhibit will be provided by area residents who have volunteered their time and animals. "The fair is very fortunate to have the support from the people who are willing to bring in their livestock for the week," Mr. Ramsburg said.

A birthing center planned for this year’s fair is an extension of City Streets, Country Roads. Visitors will have the chance to experience the live birth of various livestock and watch as the animal mothers care for their young. Organizing the exhibit is Dr. Cindy Burnsteel, a member of the Western Maryland Veterinary Association. The Birthing Center is sponsored by MD Life Magazine.

In addition to the live animal exhibits at City Streets, Country Roads, educational displays will also be provided by the Frederick County Farm Museum, MidAtlantic Farm Credit, Frederick County Farm Bureau, Frederick County 4-H and local FFA Chapters, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Also available from the exhibit will be the distribution of 7000 coloring/activity books sponsored by Frederick County Farm Bureau, Frederick County Farm Bureau Women, Frederick County Farm Bureau Dairy Bar, Frederick County Young Farmers, Frederick County Pomona Grange, Willard Agri-Services, Ideal Buick-GMC Truck-Hyundai, Shenandoah Motors, Shenandoah Ford, Middletown Chevrolet-Pontiac, Frederick County Farm Museum, Gardencraft Landscaping, The Red Barn Group LLC/ HDI Corp/ AgriVisions LLC, and MidAtlantic Farm Credit. Designing the book is HDI Corp. Books will be available in limited supplies.

It’s Fiber-Optics, also an extension of the City Streets, Country Roads exhibit, will be returning to this year’s fair. The display has been expanded to included a wider variety of fiber samples, including sheep and alpaca. It will feature spinning demonstrations throughout the week, as well as multi-media presentations.