ATHENS -- Look for a skidder-tire flipping contest, a kids' baseball game and a couch-potato race as new attractions at this year's Athens Wesserunsett Valley Fair.

Changes this year will add to the popular pig scramble, frying-pan throw, fireworks and other events.

Organizers of the fair say they want to get the word out early this year about changes in the fair lineup, so participants have time to prepare. Among the changes is an agricultural-float contest, fair association President Donna Avery said.

"The agricultural float, you can't give them just a week to do that," Avery said. "We want to give the people time -- you've got to give them four to five weeks to do a float."

The Athens fair is scheduled for Aug. 3-5 at the old fairgrounds and exhibition hall on Route 150.

Avery said the agricultural-float contest is open to everyone, with no age categories.

Each float must have an agricultural theme -- dairy farming, livestock, flowers or vegetables -- and must display the name, town or group presenting the float.

Floats can be no larger than 8-feet by 15-feet in size and must in place, on the fairgrounds, by noon on Friday, Aug. 3.

"It can be on anything they want, as long as they can move it and get it to the fair," Avery said.

First prize for the float contest is $50. Second place wins $30 and third place $20.

"This is something new," Avery said. "We're trying to broaden the view of agriculture and get the community involved."

Billing itself as a "good ol' country fair," the Athens Wesserunsett Valley Fair, was once one of the largest fairs in the area, with a tradition stretching back well more than 100 years.

Founded originally in the 19th century, the Athens fair rivaled even the Skowhegan State Fair at one time. Then suddenly in 1985, community interest in keeping the fair alive faded, and the fairgrounds fell silent.

In 1997, several local families decided to revive the fair and got it going again.

Also new to this year's Athens fair is a "he-man" contest -- in which women are allowed to participate -- a couch-potato race and a dog agility "show and go" in the horse ring on Sunday morning Aug. 5.

In the "he-man" contest, participants will compete in two weight classes to "test your strength and endurance," organizer Cory Bussell says in the program guide.

The event is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2.

It is a time-and-distance event and the one with the overall best time and distance will be the winner.

The event is to include a "farmer's walk," in which participants carry heavy loads, a skidder-tire flip, dead-weight lifts and a vehicle pull.

Entry fee is $10 and prize money will be offered if 10 or more people participate. Trophies will be given to the first- and second-place winners.

The "Strong Arm Challenge" arm-wrestling event is scheduled to follow.

Doug Harlow -- 474-9535 ext. 342

dharlow@centralmaine.com