The North Central Indiana Antique Tractor Pullers Association sponsors the antique tractor pull, 5 p.m. Friday, July 15, in Clauson Amphitheater, featuring 20 classes of tractors all over 65 years old. Photo provided by NCIATPA.

ROCHESTER — Fulton County 4-H Fair will include a variety of entertainment opportunities throughout the week of July 9-16 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds, 1009 W. Third St., Rochester.

A recent addition to this year’s fair will be lawn mower races 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9, in Clauson Amphitheater. Admission is $5. Organizer Nick Richter has been involved with the races since he was a little kid. “This is an opportunity to bring to the fair something a little different we haven’t seen.”

There will be standard and modified classes, with the latter including four-wheeler or motorcycle engines with “something resembling a lawn mower” for the chassis. These can reach speeds over 40 mph; however a limit will be set for safety. Timed laps will be run to determine limits. The dirt track shape is yet to be determined; however, Richter said it will likely not be a standard oval. “We’ve had a lot of early interest,” said Richter. Ages will be 13-14 years of age and up. The entry fee is $40. Contact Richter at (574) 727-4689 for more information.

Sweetcakes Entertainment will be on hand from 5-9 p.m. Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12, in the Everett Smith Building. Sweetcakes offers face painting, caricature drawing and elaborate balloon animals for the entire family.

Silly Safari will be at the Everett Smith Building at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 13. Silly Safari provides live animal conservation education, featuring all manner of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects, and are a big hit with kids, as was recently shown at a well-attended event at Rochester Public Library recently.

Live musical entertainment this year starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, with Spencer Hatcher. Hatcher has been playing the music of his home in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia since he was 5 years old. Though influenced by some of the greats, such as Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis and Johnny Cash, Hatcher has a sound of his own. Admission is $5.

Fulton County’s own Round Barn Opry will perform in Midway free tent at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14. Led by the father/daughter team of Thad Steward and Kate Karter, Round Barn Opry puts a modern spin on the classic Nashville sound. Karter has performed on America’s Got Talent, with Bobby Randall (formerly of the Sawyer Brown band, and the Confederate Railroad) and opened for Grammy Award Winner, Linda Davis.

The always well attended tractor pull kicks off at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, in Clauson Amphitheater. This year will also include a 4-H class. The event is sponsored by Gohn Ag and admission is $10, but free for those wearing Pioneer Seed apparel.

The Antique Tractor Pull brings the past back to life at 5 p.m. Friday, July 15, in Clauson Amphitheater. Admission is $10. Sponsored by the North Central Indiana Antique Tractor Pullers Association, the event features over 20 classes, stock and modified. Almost any tractor can take part as long as it is over 65 years old.

Wrapping up the week is the annual demolition derby, which also will take place in the amphitheater, 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16. Admission is $10. The fee to enter the race is $20 and rules can be picked up in the Purdue Extension office. For more information, contact Randy See, (574) 721-1445, or Dave Overmyer, (574) 727-1209.

Hailing from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Hatcher has been playing guitar, banjo and singing since he was five years old, developing an original take on classic country and bluegrass. He performs at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, in Clauson Amphitheater. Photo provided by Fulton Fair Board.