When the Lawrence County Fair returns in July, it will see the start of a new animal competition for 4-H and FFA members.

This will be the first year for a Market Turkey competition, Rachael Fraley, extension educator for Lawrence County, said.

Fraley said the exhibition of the turkeys will take place similar to the Market Chicken shows, though they will be presented with a cane, like the fair’s hog shows.

“This is the first time,” she said of the turkey show, but noted that, in previous years, 4-H members had the option of exhibiting turkeys in the fair’s Fancy Poultry competitions.

Fraley said members will be able to exhibit up to two turkeys and that the sign up deadline is Feb. 15. Enrollment deadline for 4-H is March 15 for this year.

This year’s Lawrence County Fair will be two days shorter than previous years, though Fraley said this will not have any impact on 4-H and FFA programs and they will be hosting the same number of events.

She said events such as the Skillathon and the fair queen competition, early parts of the fair, may take place on the Sunday before the fair kickoff on Monday.

This year’s Lawrence County Fair is set for July 7-12 at the county fairgrounds, located at 7755 County Road 107 in Rome Township.