The Mississippi State Fair kicks off Wednesday, and at least 33 Warren County youths are preparing for one of the fair’s biggest attractions — livestock events.

Four youths from Warren County’s 4-H club, Klub-4-Kids, and 12 goats will head to Jackson for showmanship events and quizzes on goat anatomy. Twenty-nine others have worked on 80 exhibits that will be displayed at the Mississippi Trade Mart throughout the nearly two-week-long state fair. About 100 4-H youths from across Mississippi will participate in the livestock competitions, said Wandra Evans, volunteer leader of Klub-4-Kids and owner of Muscadine Hills Goat Farm, which will supply some of the competing goats.

“When you show the goat, you walk behind it. The goat is always between you and the judge,” explained Evans.

Alex Griffin, Shiloh Roberts, Tory Rollins and Tyler DeWitt and their goats, Allie, Callie, Maggie and Splenda, are preparing for the fair.

“Ours usually do pretty good. Alex won close to $200 last year,” said Evans. Alex, who is 12 and is a seventh-grader at Warren Central Junior High, has been involved with 4-H for about six years and is the son of Dana Griffin and Billyjoe Quimby.

“We have to practice, bathe them, clip them, blow dry them and put show collars on them to make them look dressy,” said 9-year-old Tory Rollins, a fourth-grader at South Park Elementary and the daughter of Deidra Rollins. “Showing the goats is not about winning; it’s about having fun.”

Tyler DeWitt, 13, an eighth-grader at Warren Central Junior High and the daughter of Christy Wallace and David DeWitt, said, “I’ve learned a lot about how goats are supposed to live, eat and mainly how to take care of them.”

The Warren County youths’ day at the fair will be Oct. 10. Also participating in the goat shows will be 11-year-old Shiloh, who is a home-schooled sixth-grader and the daughter of Dave and Sherry Roberts.

2008 Mississippi State Fair

The fair kicks off at 5 p.m. Wednesday and runs through Oct. 12 at the State Fairgrounds in Jackson. Below is a sampling of information, call 601-961-4000 or visit wwwww.mdac.state.ms.us. Click on “Bureaus & Departments” and “Fair Commission.”

Admission and parking

Regular admission is $5 for adults, $4 per person for people on buses and free for children younger than 6. Parking is $5 for cars, $10 for buses and free Monday through Friday until 2 p.m. Admission is free on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Specials

• Advance Admission — Six regular tickets can be purchased for $18, a $30 value, at any Trustmark full-service office and the Coliseum Box Office until 5 p.m. Wednesday.

• Ride-A-Thons — From 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Oct. 10, an unlimited ride pass is $20, plus admission.

• Family Night —  From 5 to 11 p.m. Oct. 6-8, an unlimited ride pass is $25., plus admission.

• Sneak-a-Peak — On Wednesday, opening day, an unlimited ride pass is $25.00, plus admission.

Entertainment

Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on the Budweiser Main Stage in the Coliseum. Tickets are $5, plus fair admission, and can be purchased at the Coliseum Box Office, Ticket Master Outlets, Be-Bop Records or by phone at 601-355-5252; service charges could apply.

Wednesday — Blue Oyster Cult – Molly Hatchet

Thursday — The Charlie Daniels Band

Friday — Puddle of Mudd

Oct. 8 — Keith Sweat

Oct. 9 — Rodney Atkins/Sweetwater Jade

Oct. 10 — Lifehouse

Livestock Shows

Mississippi youths will compete for top honors in livestock and agriculture. For a list of shows, visit www.mdac.state.ms.us and click on “Bureaus & Departments” and “Fair Commission.”

4-H Day at the Fair

Set for Oct. 11 at the Mississippi Trade Mart, 4-H Day will include exhibits, a fashion revue and public speaking.

Senior American Day 2008

This special day for seniors, set for Oct. 8, will feature exhibits at 9 a.m., flu shots at 10 a.m. and a free show at noon at the Coliseum. The show will include nationally known musician and television star Guy Hovis and Branson gospel favorite Spoken 4. Fair admission and parking will be free for seniors 50 and older.

Mississippi Trade Mart

Open daily until 10 p.m., the Mississippi Trade Mart is the venue for the State Fair Talent Contest, Antique Car Show, State Fair Cheerleading/Dance Competition, vendors, exhibits and other products and demonstrations.