The 2008 Carroll County 4- H Fair will open Friday evening in Flora with a carnival, Little Miss & Mister Pageant, and concert.

Beer's and Jessop's Co. Inc. will have rides set up Friday through Friday July 11-18. Midway specials will be offered. Advance tickets are available for $12 per sheet from The Flower Shoppe in Flora and Delphi and Salin Bank in Flora and Burlington. Flora Community Club is sponsoring the carnival.

The Little Miss & Mister Pageant will be held in the show arena, starting at 7 p.m. MCs are Bill Shidler and Miss Carroll County 2007 Desiray Simmons. Special guest will be Miss Indiana State Fair Queen Kristen Schmitt.

Samantha Lynn Hart will bring her multi-faceted style of music to the Carroll County YMCA on Friday evening.

Born in New Orleans, Hart says she pulls her music inspiration from many genres and styles. In her own words, she wants the audience to feel what she is singing, not just hear it. Her inspiration musically is Dolly Parton.

Hart, her four children and two dogs are victims of Hurricane Katrina and most recently, the flooding in southern Indiana. They now make their home in Terre Haute.

Tickets for Hart's performance are being sold at The Flower Shoppe in Flora and Delphi and Salin Bank in Flora and Burlington. Cost is $10 per person with children 15 and under free with a limit of two free childs' tickets per one adult.

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

The 51st annual 4-H Fair Queen Pageant will be Saturday evening at 7 in the show arena. Twelve young women are vying for the title.

The 4-H horse and gaming events are Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m. in the horse arena.

The 4-H Parade will be Sunday at 2 p.m., with line-up starting at 1 p.m. at Jackson- Lee-Pearson. The parade will continue up Clark Street, proceed north on Center Street, then east on Main to the park. Prizes will be given for first, second, and third place floats. Parade marshals are Carol and Paul O'Farrell. This year's theme is "Today's 4-H Stars…Tomorrow's Leaders."

Carroll County Kid's Day will be Sunday, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Merchant's Building. Sponsored by the Tobacco Prevention Coalition, this free event will feature health information and fun.

The 4-H Fashion Revue will be at 7 in the show arena.

Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders will be signing autographs Monday in the Merchant's Building from 4 to 6 p.m.

Carroll County Antique Tractor Club will have a display. The club is also sponsoring free concerts and homemade ice cream on Monday and Tuesday nights. The Cowboy Church Band will perform at 7 p.m. Monday with homemade ice cream following at 7:30. Tuesday night's musical entertainment will be by the Cutler Band. Homemade ice cream will be served starting at 7:30.

Dick Burns will be calling the cues for square dancing that starts at 7 p.m. Monday at the basketball court. Observation is free.

The Carroll County Band, under the direction of Jay Dennison, will perform Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. during the Flora Community Club Fish Fry. They will also perform from 7:30 to 9:30 at the basketball courts while the ballroom dancers perform.

Special awards and champion trophies will be presented to deserving 4-Hers on Wednesday night at 6:30 in the show arena.

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.

The Cookie Bake-A-Rama on Wednesday is open to anyone, regardless of age. There will be both youth and adult categories. Any type of baked cookie may be entered. Cookies must be entered between 9- 10 a.m. in the Home & Family Arts Building. Judging will begin at 10. Winners will be announced immediately following judging.

Harvest of Quilts at the Fair will be on display Tuesday through Thursday 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. Winners are selected from categories by popular vote.

Bidders are needed at Friday night's 4-H auction to help support the Extension Homemakers' Iris McCain Scholarship. Cookies "From the Best Cooks in Carroll County" Cookie Bake A Rama entries (frozen to be sold at the livestock auction) will be auctioned. All profit from the cookie auction will go to the Iris McCain Memorial Scholarship fund. Scholarships are awarded to adult Carroll County residents returning to college.

Off-duty police officers will be patrolling the grounds courtesy of Flora Community Club and the Antique Tractor Club.

For a complete schedule of events see pages 6&7A and for 4-H queen and Little Miss and Mister contest information see page 1B.