"I think this year's going to be good," said Stacey Lowe, president of the 2002 Fair. "The weather's looking good and that usually determines the size of the crowd."

Lowe said youth members have worked hard all year putting everything together for this weekend's fair.

"The fair's the first of its kind, since 1924 it's been entirely run by youth," she said. "We make all the contacts for getting enough straw for the livestock, hiring the judges, you name it.

"Adults advise us, but we make all of our own decisions," Lowe said.

Lowe, a Durham resident, said her specialty 4-H is raising sheep and she will show two sheep during the weekend.

"Doing this has given me leadership experience," Lowe said. "I want to go into wild life biology, and I'm pretty sure working with livestock in 4-H will help with that down the road."

Ten-year-old Michael Bourt of Milford looked as serious as a corporate analyst giving a presentation to the board of directors on the fiscal year's earnings.

He held a Rhode Island Red chicken under his left arm and a metal pointer in his left hand, its point tapping a large diagram of a rooster.

One by one he marked each major part of the diagram and explained the look and function of a rooster's major visible parts.

"The sickles are tail feathers used for attracting a mate, showing dominance and protection," Michael said to his friend, Orange resident Niall Dammando, 9, who stood dutifully as his test audience.

Michael was preparing for an educational presentation he will make on Saturday, one of the many activities visitors can partake in during the fair.

To the uninitiated, the bright red comb of Michael's Rhode Island Red would suggest it was a male.

Well, guess again.

"It's not a rooster, but a hen," Michael said. "There are a lot of breeds where the male and female have combs. Actually, it's pretty difficult the tell their sexes sometimes."

Michael said his rooster recently died and he was using a hen because the new rooster was not used to being held "and could get fussy."

"That's the rooster that thinks it's so tough?" Niall said.

"Yeah," Michael answered.

The fair will continue today from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission costs $3 for individuals ages 12 and over, and $2 for senior citizens. Children under 12 are free.

The fair's schedule will be available at the fair and at its Web site, www.4-hfair.org.

To contact John Christie, call (860) 347-3331 ext. 220 or e-mail jchristie@middletownpress.com.