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Show Guardian of Your Community News A10 'WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2009 Gearing up for the Demolition Derby Chad Vest STAFF W R I T E R Samantha Beck / Tlie Sentinel DELICATE WORK: The equipment rodeo features big machines doing small jobs. Equipment rodeo will test city workers' skills Jeril Bills STAFF WHITER Have you ever seen someone pick up an egg with a backhoe, or drain a cup of water using only his mouth? These are just a couple of the things you'll see at this year's Utah County Fair equipment rodeo. In the equipment rodeo, Utah County cities compete with each other in a timed relay that involves five tasks the team has to perform, each requiring the use of one of the city's machines. In one task, teams are expected to run a truck and trailer through an obstacle course, then back it through a narrow alley of cones. At the end of the alley is a cone with a golf ball on top. The operator of the truck, with the help of a spotter, backs the truck until the trailer touches the cone. However, while the trailer must touch the cone, the golf ball has to stay on. In another task, teams are expected to pick up an egg with a spoon attached to a backhoe and drop it into an eight-inch weld cap.Teams also must use a backhoe to place a bottle in a rack, and pick up a softball with an excavator and drop it into a five gallon bucket. The final event is the "thirsty person" challenge, in which the four team members pick up and empty a cup of water each using only their mouths. Each team is timed, and time is added for penalties, such as knocking over cones. Whoever finishes within the least amount of time wins. This is the equipment rodeo's second year at the Utah County Fair. Fair organizers got the idea from Questar, who holds equipment rodeos of their own and helped the county out with its event. Last year, Springville beat out Pleasant Grove for the title. This year Spanish Fork, Salem, Springville, Pleasant Grove, Payson, and Utah County are slated to compete, and Carol Harmer, one of the chairpersons of the fair, said that Santaquin may also compete. Harmer says the event is "hilarious. It is so fun." Since the prize is a traveling trophy, Harmer says the teams "really work at it for bragging rights." This year's equipment rodeo will be held on Aug. 13 from 2-5 p.m. at the Spanish Fork fairgrounds. the human body. But that's where many rules and regulations come in to place to For the second consecu- make it as safe as possible. tive year, the County Fair In fact, Zabriskie menDemolition Derby will be at tioned that football players the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds are more likely to suffer ininside the rodeo arena. It will juries on the gridiron than take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, drivers who compete in the Aug. 15. If you haven't pur- derby, due to all the safety chased your tickets by now, precautions. it may be too late because the Each driver shows up derby was a hit in front of a to the arena around 1 p.m. sold crowd. Price for admis- Saturday to check in their sion was listed as $10 for car to be thoroughly inadults and $7 for children. spected by derby officials. Tickets can be purchased at Some rules are as follows: Maceys. All outside hardware must Last year's prize win- be removed, including door ner ($3000 cash) was Kurt handles, mirrors, chrome, Zabriskie, an engineer who molding, screws, fiberglass began building his own car etc. Drivers must have into compete in demolition ner padding on the driver's derbies in 2000. Zabriskie door and driver's side door became interested after a posts. Each participant fellow engineer introduced wears a helmet and seathim to the sport. belts are worn at all times. "I had a friend from Tires can be used of any work who got me started size. If something added on it," said Zabriskie. "He to the car doesn't meet the grew up building [cars] and rules, drivers are asked to doing it and soon we started correct the problem or be disqualified. One particuworking together." This year's prize win- lar car cannot be used — a ner, which will be the last 1973 Chrysler Imperial or car running, will walk away Lebaron and that includes those same models made in with $3,500 dollars. Some viewers may see previous years. this event as a dangerous During the actual event sport, one that could eas- there are three to four difily cause physical harm to ferent heats, and the top three cars in each heat advance to the final heat for a shot at the prize money. Each car has to make a hit every two minutes in order to stay alive in the derby. Otherwise, they will be disqualified. Drivers in the final show will have time to tune up the car before entering the arena to make it as fair as possible. Each participant in the final will walk away with no less than $200 dollars if not declared the last car running. "Some take it pretty seriously," said Zabriskie. "The whole idea behind it is for everybody to have fun. The drivers definitely feel that adrenaline rush which is kind of what seems to drive them to keep doing it." Zabriskie mentioned that any injury reported in the past has been only minor. Much like a quarterback, these drivers feel most of the sting on blindside hits that happen all too often without a rearview mirror. But that's what piques the fans interest. "It's just good old American family fun," said Zabriskie. "For some, it may sound disturbing with- everyday traffic rules thrown out the window, but it's just good clean fun." Namon Bills / The Sentinel COLLISION CENTRAL: Kurt Zabriskie, in car 300, won last year's demolition derby. Miss Utah County Pageant Kirsten Reimschiissel / The Sentinel CLOSE UP: The FFA Live Animal Exhibit will allow youth a chance to get up close and personal with various farm animals. Maple Mountain FFA to host live animal exhibit Lindsay B. Wolsey STAFF W R I T E R There are a lot of firsts coming up for" Maple Mountain High School (MMHS) and they aren't waiting until school starts to get started. The first group of Future Farmers of America (FFA) from MMHS will be providing a Live Animals Exhibit at the Utah County Fair. Their goal is to educate the community on the purpose of farm animals and the products they produce. John Olson is a self-de- scribed "overenthusiastic" member of the MMHS FFA Alumni, and is the proud parent of the first FFA president for MMHS, Luke Olson. Olson and his wife Trisha are overseeing the exhibit. "This is my first year participating in a live animal exhibit," Olson explained. "I would like the public to know they have an opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of farm animals, and they will have an opportunity to ask questions and get answers from the staff." The exhibit will be staffed by current FFA members and alumni association members, as well as some future FFA members. "Basically, I've got my kids that aren't old enough to be in FFA that are currently in 4-H helping staff the exhibit," Olson said. The exhibit will include sheep, cows, pigs, horses, chickens, llamas and rabbits. It will be open and staffed from the opening of the fair on Wednesday, Aug. 12 to closing Saturday, Aug. 15. Kate Jarman / The Sentinel PAGEANTRY: The Covey Center for the Arts hosted this year's Miss Utah County pageant. Several contestants competed in the categories of swimsuit/fitness, talent, on-stage interview, evening wear and personal interview for the title of Miss Utah County. Performances by last year's Miss Utah County, Whitney Merrifield, on the piano were also featured alongside a guest performance by Incline, a male a cappella group from Salem. Christine Lowe was crowned this year's Miss Utah County, above, accompanied by her first attendant, Jen Gulbrandsen, and second attendant, Katie Angerbauer. 4 u ' |