JANESVILLE Christmas will come early this year in Rock County with its annual 4-H Fair.
The fair starts Tuesday and concludes Sunday, Aug. 2. This years theme is Christmas in July. Rock County 4-H Fair Treasurer Robin Heath said the event will come bearing two new gifts this year, with Agri-Golf and the Swifty Swine pig races.
Heath points toward Agri-Golf as a key new feature of the fair. Agri-Golf hours are noon to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Created by Lee and Rebecca Andrews, Agri-Golf is a form of miniature golf made for fairs that incorporates agriculture education into the game. Holes are customized to show agricultural facts from the state in which the game is played.
Its cool for it to come. I thought it would be something new and different for the kids to do, Heath said.
The Swifty Swine races will be run five times daily from Tuesday to Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Sunday, the races will be at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The races feature pig competitors such as Kevin Bacon, Britney Spare-ribs, Ba-rack-o-rib Obama and Patrick Ma-hams. Swifty Swine Production Organizers promote Swifty the Swimming Pig as the real star of the show on its website.
The competitors race down a track with the winning pig scoring an Oreo cookie. The Oreo will be waiting for them at the finish line for them to eat.
Heath is enjoying decorating the fair this year.
I have two favorite times of year and this year its going to be really awesome because I love Christmas. I love the fair and this is my other favorite time of year, Heath said.
Participants in 4-H will show projects like photography, gardening, woodworking, sewing and cooking. They will also show animals they have raised in the past year.
Its just coming to see everyones hard work for the past year and supporting the kids, Heath said.
Another staple of the fair, the Rock County Fairest of the Fair Ceremony, will be 7 p.m. at the Craig Pavilion.
On Wednesday, the fair will have a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. A feature of the Day will be Rock County Idol in the Grandstand.
Thursday will feature a Senior Citizens and Veterans Appreciation Day. At 6:30 p.m., there will be a Veterans and Military Hometown Heroes Recognition at the Grandstand.
The 4-H Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m.
There will be parking behind the First Lutheran Church.
A full list of events and amusement ride prices are available at .