The 2006 version of the Carroll County 4-H Fair at Flora will open Friday evening with a carnival and Little Miss & Mister Pageant.

Burton Brothers Midway rides will be set up Friday through Monday, from 4 to 10 p.m. Midway specials will be offered each night.

The Little Miss & Mister Pageant will be held in the show arena, starting at 7 p.m. There are 36 contestants.

The Merchant's Building is opening, too, on Friday evening and will be open each evening throughout the fair.

The annual 4-H Fair Queen Pageant will be Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. in the show arena.

Jugglers and cyclists will present two free shows on Tuesday evening, at 5 and 7 p.m. The demonstration will be on the west side of the Merchant's Building.

The Peru Circus will present two free shows on Wednesday, courtesy of local sponsors. The first 45-minute show will be at 6:30 p.m., followed by the second show at 7:45 p.m.

Carroll County Antique Tractor Club will have a display. The club is also sponsoring free musical entertainment on two evenings. The Cutler Band will perform on Monday and the Cowboy Church Band on Tuesday. The club will be serving homemade ice cream at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Carroll County Firefighters will have their Smokehouse set up Wednesday and Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., just east of the Merchants Building.

Also on Thursday the National Pedal Pullers will have a contest at the basketball courts for ages 3 through 19. Registration is from 5 to 6 p.m.

Carroll County Freemasons will provide their first Free Child Protection Program from 5 to 9 p.m. each day. At least one parent must accompany the child. Children will receive a video disc picture, have fingerprints taken, and get a DNA swab.

New to the evening dinner line-up in the park is a beef brisket dinner to be served Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. by Leadership Carroll County.

Traditional evening favorites include the port-a-pit chicken dinner, served by Carroll County Democrats, on Monday; fish fry, served by Flora Community Club, on Tuesday; pork chop dinner, served by Carroll County Republicans, on Wednesday; and barbeque supper, served by Carroll County Lions Clubs, on Thursday.

Carroll County Extension Homemakers will be serving daily lunch and supper specials Monday through Wednesday, and supper only on Thursday.

Carroll County Pork Producers will serve lunch during Thursday's 4-H Swine Show.

Other food vendors will be set up, including Junior Leaders, Living Faith Church of the Brethren, Parrett's Meat Processing, Flora Lions Club, Flora Psi Iota Xi, and Carroll FFA/Music Boosters.

The 4-H part of the fair kicks-off on Sunday with the annual parade, starting at 2 p.m. at Jackson-Lee-Pearson and proceeding from Clark Street, north on Center, east on Main, to the park. This year's theme is "4-H Builds Leaders." Parade marshals are Meredith and Sharon Ayres.

The 4-H horse and pony gaming events are Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. in the horse arena. The 4-H Fashion Revue is Sunday evening at 7 in the show arena.

Earth Night will be observed Monday evening in the park near the Home & Family Arts Building. The event is being billed as family fun with a conservation theme.

Special awards and champion trophies will be presented to 4-Hers at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the show arena. The talent show will follow.

The Cookie Bake-A-Rama is open to anyone, regardless of age, on Wednesday. Cookies must be entered from 9-10 a.m. in the Home & Family Arts Building. Judging will begin at 10 and will be open to the public. Winners will be announced immediately following judging. Cash awards will be presented.

Harvest of Quilts 2006 will be on display Tuesday through Friday in the Home & Family Arts Building. Hours are: Tuesday 1 to 9 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Livestock shows are: Saturday - Rabbits; Monday - Poultry, cat, dog and llama/alpaca; Tuesday - Goat, horse and pony, pocket pets, and sheep. Wednesday - Beef. Thursday - Swine. The 4-H Livestock Auction starts at 6 p.m. Friday in the show arena.

For a complete schedule of events, see pages 6&7 A.