County Fair kicks off

Storm clouds loomed ominously overhead, and the humidity just wouldn't quit, hanging heavily in the air well into the evening.\nImpatient mothers admonished anxious children, juggling babies and corn dogs, while fathers checked out the latest in farm equipment being showcased at the outdoor arenas.\nYet it didn't deter the hundreds of parents and children, of husbands and wives, of high school sweethearts crowding the Monroe County fairgrounds on the southwest side of Bloomington Saturday night.\nThey danced to the tunes of local country and pop bands. They watched the Queen contest. They peered through wire cages at prizewinning floppy-eared bunnies, contestants in the annual 4H Rabbit Show. \nAnd in the end, they went home happy.\n"I've never been to a fair before," said Greta Smithville, a resident of Hilton Head, S.C., visiting family in Indiana this week. While she enjoyed herself despite the threat of rain, "I don't really understand the poultry obsession," she said, laughing. \nFairgoers can access the grounds from Airport Road each day from 4 to 8 p.m. Airport Road will be one-way westbound from Ind. 45 to Bunger Road. \nThose without parking permits can enter the grounds from Airport Road at Gate 1. But drivers will not have to pay the parking fee at the gate. The toll booth is now located at the end of a three-lane entrance ramp designed to relieve traffic problems. \nEight-year 4-H member Kara VanDeventer was crowned Monroe County Fair Queen Saturday night. She triumphed over 16 contestants vying for this year's crown. \nVanDeventer will attend IU in the fall and plans to major in elementary education. She says she plans to emerge as "a positive role model" for young adults in Monroe County.\n"She was just beautiful," gushed Indianapolis high school student Mark Wileska, who hit the fair with friends Saturday. "But man, I have no idea how I could have judged those girls." \nFair officials credit volunteers with the event's success. Volunteers work four-hour shifts in areas ranging from food service to ticketing to parking assistance. \nThe fair opened Saturday night and will continue through July 28. The schedule includes horse and pony shows, livestock exhibitions and competitions and performances by area musical groups at the 4H amphitheater and grandstand.