GREENUP — The Greenup County Fairgrounds were full of activity on Friday ahead of today’s unofficial opening activities for the Greenup County Fair.

The Demotion Derby is set for tonight at 7:30, kicking off a week of events. Gates open at 3 p.m. and admission is $10, and includes parking and carnival rides.

Admission for children ages 3 and under is free, but there is a $6 charge for rides.

Greenup County Fair Board President Jay Sizemore said tonight’s Demolition Derby may again set the record for the largest in Kentucky. Entries were expected to top 40 vehicles.

“It kind of blasts everything off and sets the mood for everything after it,” he said.

Sizemore said the Greenup Fair has been growing in the last couple of years, and is almost bursting at the seems.

“We have no more space for anymore vendors, our commercial buildings are full,” he said. “ Our Ag buildings are full. Everything is almost 100 percent running here.

We're almost to capacity,” he said, adding, “I hope that continues. For Greenup County, this is a big event. A huge amount of people in the county are invovled in it all year long.”

The Greenup Fair lasts through next Saturday. Organizers estimate 20,000 visitors will visit the fair over the course of the next six days.

The fair officially gets under way on Tuesday night with opening ceremonies slated for 6 p.m. followed by the Kids in the Races event and the Miss Greenup County Fair pageant. On Monday, the grounds will bustle as livestock is entered and weighed in.

This year’s fair will boost a larger-than-ever roster of livestock exhibitions along with a slate of familiar agriculture exhibits and other special events Greenup fair-goers have come to love and expect.  

Greenup County 4H extension agent Aaron Boyd, who joined the service in May, said he is looking forward to the livestock events that begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday and extend through next Saturday’s livestock auction.  

“I don’t think people realize how big it is, how much time the kids put in and how dedicated they are,” Boyd said. “They really get a lot of joy out of showing their animals. You can tell by watching them.”

Sizemore said last year the fair boasted more than $130,000 in livestock sales and expects this year to be on par.  

“For the last two or three years in a row, we've set livestock records,” he said.

The Horse Show on Wednesday night is quickly becoming a beloved and anticipated event, according to Sizemore. After a hiatus, the show returned to the fair last year and is expected to be bigger than last year’s. Announcers will have the opportunity to use a new two-story booth overlooking the arena and should add a new level of professionalism to the event, Sizemore said.

Another highlight of fair week is the Motorcross set for Thursday night. On Friday night a record crowd is also expected for the Tractor and Truck Pull, sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Tractor Pullers Association.

The Saturday night Lawnmower Races are a sort of grand finale for the fair, according to Sizemore. “In the last two years it has become our biggest event.”

Approximately 50 lawnmowers are expected to race. “It started out with local guys having a good time and its turned into a big event. Some of these guys work on their lawnmowers all year long to come in and race,” he said.

Sizemore said that type of year-round enthusiasm is what makes the fair what it is.

“It is such a tradition in the lives of people in Greenup County,” he explained. “They go all year long ... it builds and builds all the way to the fair.”

“The Greenup County Fair is what a county fair is supposed to be,” he added. “The way it looks, the things that go on — it’s the way a fair should be.”

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.

2012 GREENUP COUNTY FAIR SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Today

3 p.m. Gates open

7:30 p.m. Demolition Derby

Monday

4-8 p.m. — Entry and Weigh-In of all Livestock projects (Lambs, Goats, Hogs, Rabbits and Chickens will weigh-in at the Lamb Barn; Steer, Feeder Calves and Heifers at the Beef Barn). Set up of club booths

Tuesday

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Entering of Exhibits

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — 4-H/FFA Steer, Feeder Calf Show and Showmanship

4 p.m. — Rabbit and Poultry Show and Showmanship

Wednesday

9 a.m. — 1 p.m. 4-H/FFA Hog and Feeder Pig Show and Showmanship

1 p.m. — 2 p.m. Registration Baby Miss and Baby Mister

3 p.m. Baby Miss and Baby Mister Little Miss and Little Mister Greenup County Fair

5 p.m. —  6 p.m. Registration for Miss Junior and Miss Teen Greenup County

5 p.m. —  Greenup County Fair Horse Show

6:30 p.m. —  Miss Junior and Miss Teen Greenup County Fair

Thursday

9 a.m. — 1 p.m. 4-H/FFA Lamb, Goat and Dairy Goat Show and Showmanship

1-2:30 p.m. — Round Robin Showmanship: Winners for Showmanship for each species will compete for best all around showman

2:30 p.m. — Llama Show and Showmanship

3:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m. Greenup County Fair Glitz and Glamour Pageant Registration

5 p.m. — Glitz and Glamour Pageant

5 p.m. — Registration for motorcross

6:30 p.m. — Practice for motorcross

7:30 p.m. — B and M Motor Sports Motorcross

Friday

10 a.m. — 2 p.m. 4-H Horse Show

8-10 a.m. — Livestock Judging Competition (In Show Barn)

4 p.m. — Recognition of Skill-A-Thon and Livestock Judging Winners (In Show Barn)

7 p.m. — Northern Kentucky Tractor Pullers Association present the Tractor and Truck Pull

Sept. 2

10 a.m. — Kids Day featuring events for kids of all ages

10 a.m. — Greenup Old Tractor Engines and Machinery Antique Tractor Show

10:15 a.m. — Dog Show and Registration

10:30 a.m. — Buyers lunch

11 a.m. — Greenup County Fair Dog Show

Noon — Livestock Sale of Grand Champions, Sale of Reserve Champions, Sale of all other animals: Rabbits, Poultry, Lambs, Goats, Steers, Feeder Calves, Feeder Pigs, and Hogs

4 p.m. — Antique Tractor Pull

7 p.m. — Lawnmower Race Warm-ups

8 p.m. — Lawnmower Races

Sept. 3

8:30 a.m. — All Animals Leave the Fairgrounds

2– 5 p.m. — Check out all Exhibits, Booths, and pick up checks