A CUDDLY CREATURE — Tiffany Frazier of Wellsburg, left, and her daughter, Adeyah, found a camel in the petting zoo at the Brooke County Fair Saturday that enjoyed being petted. The animal was one of many brought by local farmers to the fair, which was held Friday through Sunday at Brooke Hills Park. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Many turned out for the Brooke County Fair to enjoy a variety of food and live entertainment, thrill to various amusement rides and inflatable attractions or to root for participants in an assortment of contests.

An annual highlight of the fair, held at Brooke Hills Park, is the tug of war tournament between teams of pupils from the county’s intermediate and primary schools.

A team of pupils from Melissa Border’s homeroom at Franklin Intermediate School defended their school’s right to display its trophy after winning several consecutive rounds of the double elimination tournament.

Their opponents in the final two rounds were pupils from Marla Hileman’s homeroom at Jefferson Intermediate School, who also advanced through several rounds.

The two teams were among 10 representing the schools, which include grades 3 and 4, and comprised of boys and girls.

TEAM WORK — Pupils in Melissa Border’s homeroom at Franklin Intermediate School prepare for one of the many rounds that led to their victory at the tug of war tournament between the county’s intermediate schools Saturday during the Brooke County Fair. The team included K.C. Starr, Russell Parr, Amelia Dinch, John Williams, Mykiah Nelson and Brayden Cunningham. The contest was one of many held during the fair, which was held Friday through Sunday at Brooke Hills Park. -- Warren Scott

A tug of war tournament involving second graders from Hooverson Heights and Wellsburg primary schools also was held, with a team from Susan McCardel’s homeroom emerging the winners also following several winning rounds.

Students from Brooke Middle and High schools, meanwhile, could participate in a mud volleyball tournament.

Among many other competitions were a children’s tractor pedal pull contest, in which young children tried pulling a weighted trailer while riding a toy tractor; pizza eating and rooster calling contests, drag races between all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes and a demolition derby.

Avid gardeners and bakers were invited by organizers of the Brooke County Farmers Market to submit the fruits of their labor into various categories for baked goods, produce and other home-made products such as jams, jellies, honey and syrup.

They also invited children to create their own Mr. Potato Heads by applying fake eyes and other accessories to real spuds.

Tia Graham, head coordinator for those contests, was pleased to have more than 100 entries in the first year they have held them.

Those who lack talent in the kitchen could walk away with one of the baked goods when the many treats were put up for bid in an auction.

Leaders and youth in the West Virginia University Extension Service’s Brooke County 4-H program also were on hand, offering contests and involving hula hooping, corn chucking, crafts and other tasks.

A petting zoo at the fair was filled with an assortment of barnyard and other animals.

Tiffany Frazier of Wellsburg and her daughter, Adeyah, found a camel there quite enjoyed their petting him, nuzzling closer as they stroked his long furry neck.

The fair received high marks from Tiffany, who said, “There’s a lot things for the kids to do this year. It’s good to see a lot of families here.”

Taking to the fair’s stage were a mix of comedians, singers, country and soul bands, with representatives of the Cincinnati Circus stepping in as a last-minute replacement for another group that had bowed out of the event.

The circus’ torch jugglers drew attention and gasps from many fairgoers.

A walk around the fairgrounds also revealed the many food, craft and other vendors on hand.

One could enjoy a lunch, dinner or snack of hamburgers, steak sandwiches, wings, gyros, macaroni and cheese with assorted ingredients, doughnuts, snow cones and other treats.

A number of the vendors were local nonprofit groups raising money for their efforts.

Among those selling food were volunteers with the Brooke Cubs wrestling program, Cub Scout Pack 1553 and Wellsburg United Methodist Church.

The Hooverson Heights Volunteer Fire Department was selling bottled water and chances for its Nov. 22 gun bash, while the Wellsburg Youth Baseball Association was selling chances on several Pittsburgh Steelers games, with the drawing to be held on Oct. 5 during the Wellsburg Applefest.

Actors and creators with Stage and Steel Productions, a community theater group, were selling personalized buttons and taking orders for personalized children’s books.

Located in the Bluewave Center in Follansbee, the group is preparing for Khymira Dilirium Theater, a unique Halloween event that mixes drama, their own short films and interactive computer-based games. It will be held Oct. 25 and 26 at the center, which is the former Follansbee Middle School.

The group also will be presenting “A Medieval Christmas Carol,” a version of the Charles Dickens classic that incorporates members’ skills at swordplay, Dec. 4-6 and 12-14.

They noted Stage and Steel Productions recently won two awards at the West Virginia Theater Association Community Theater Festival: outstanding production of a one-act play and outstanding performance by actor Sam Kiser.

Among many regular attendees at the fair was Janet Crawford of Wellsburg, who said, “I love everything about it, and I like getting to meet new people.