MAYHEM takes over the Douglas County Fairgrounds

A fair with a flair for demolition started Thursday night at the Douglas County Fairgrounds with lawnmower races, balloon battles and a backwards drag race.

MAYHEMilition is the hook to bring people in for this weekend’s Nevada Agricultural Fair, which focuses on the science of farming and the practice of producing livestock in Carson Valley.

“We really feel that ag education is lacking in this area,” said Nevada Agricultural Fair President Chelsy Simerson. “A good old county fair is the way that you educate the local kids, the local community, even the people who aren’t interested in ag. Everyone loves animals.”

While Douglas High School has an agricultural program, there hasn’t been an official county fair for more than 30 years.

A dozen riders raced lawnmowers with a Mario Kart twist to open the event. Riders earned points for crossing the finish line in the first four spots over three heats.

Children threw water balloons at the contestants while they rode their lawnmowers along the track. It would get continually harder each time for contestants as more rules were added.

The second time around each competitor had to carry an extra-large water balloon while riding and if it was dropped, they would have to go get another one.

The third time the competitors had to spin around with a bat, run to their mowers and hold both the water balloon and bat as they raced around.

Second place ended in a tie so these lawn mower riders had to run to their mowers and get hit by the giant water balloons as they road by for the tiebreaker.

Seven people competed in the pit bike race for cash prizes of up to $300.

A few of the cars that would be featured in Friday’s Demolition Derby drag raced backwards around concrete slabs for four rounds to determine a winner. The first-place winner went home with $1,200.

Rodrick Voss won the Simerson Construction Co. demolition derby car in a raffle sponsored by Western Nevada Grange and said he was “definitely ready to participate.”

Friday the schedule continued with the Demolition Derby and a raffle for a chance to drive a jeep in the Tuff Truck style night. The night continued with live music from Huckleberry Road who is also performing tonight.

The Nevada Agricultural Fair began Friday with a livestock show and pee wee championship along with horse judging and skill-a-thon.

Today, a full slate of events is scheduled at the fairgrounds with showmanship classes at 8 a.m. and a market poultry show at 11 a.m. followed by poultry showmanship at 11:30 a.m.

At 1 p.m. there will be a round robin where winners who have shown an animal get to compete and show all the other species at the event. At 4 p.m. the market livestock auction will kick off.

A Tuff Truck Style night starts at 7 p.m. with different courses for cars, UTVs, trucks and SUVs. There will also be fair foods, tacos, desserts and drinks featured for the night along with a 50/50 raffle.

A youth and adult horse show starts 8 a.m. Sunday.

“There are a lot of new events this year,” said Dru Simerson. “We want to create new traditions.”

For more information or to buy tickets visit mayhemilition.com or nvagfair.com.