By Perry Schaible
Enquirer contributor

Waiting to compete in a 4H clothing competition in Lebanon are (from left) Julie Bryant, 16, Carrie Pennington, 16, her sister Cassie Pennington, 15, and Danielle VonHolle, 16. The Enquirer/GLENN HARTONG

LEBANON - The smells of sweet funnel cakes and grilled corn and sounds of squealing pigs and midway barkers will soon be in the air as Greater Cincinnati's county fair season gets into full swing.

A mule and donkey show on the fairgrounds Saturday will help kick off the 153rd Warren County Fair, which officially opens Monday and runs through the 24th. The Butler and Clermont fairs open July 25, with Hamilton County and then Boone County the following weeks.

COUNTY FAIRS

Butler County Fair: July 25-31 in Hamilton, Ohio www.butlercofair.com Clermont County Fair: July 25- 31 in Owensville, Ohio www.clermontcountyfair.org Hamilton County Fair: Aug. 4-8 in Carthage, Ohio www.hamiltoncountyfair.com Boone County Fair: Aug. 7-14 in Burlington, Kentucky www.boonecountyfair.org

Pig racing returns to the Warren County Fair this year after a 15-year absence. Three shows will highlight the evening activities which include the traditional entertainment and rides.

Susie Wilson, of Lebanon, takes her family to the fair "every year, every day." Wilson and her son Zach, 6, have seen pig racing elsewhere and welcome its return here.

"(Zach) thought that was just hilarious that they race like his horses do," Wilson said.

The combine demolition derby will be back this year and a mechanical bull has been added to the attractions.

Tari Maddox, a fair staffer, said new events keep the fair fresh for regular visitors. "I think it keeps people excited seeing something different and new."

About 976 kids from Warren County will submit 2,800 projects through 4-H programs.

This year will be bittersweet for 18-year-old Lindsay Farmer, a member of the Leaders of the Future 4-H Club in Morrow, who is participating for the last time. "I'm trying to gather all the memories that I can and just hold onto them," the Morrow resident said.

Farmer has entered the general projects category for the past 11 years.

The 18th annual Junior Fair Board mule and donkey show on Saturday, an all-day event in the horse show arena, this year will raise money for the Karol Lynn Stegemoller fund. Stegemoller, a long-time mule and donkey show star, died in an automobile accident two years ago at the age of 16.

For more information, go to www.warrencountyfair.org.