CALLING IT A YEAR; FAIR ENDS TODAY; VENTURA COUNTY HISTORY FEATURED.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

A two-headed lamb and a chariot were among eye-catching exhibits detailing the county's history at the Ventura County Fair on Saturday.

The two-headed lamb, which was stillborn on the Sexton Ranch in 1928, was a highlight of the historical exhibition for 14-year-old Steve Lynch of Burbank.

``It's kind of neat,'' he said. ``And I really liked the other nature exhibits and the older stuff like the old chariot and pictures of Moorpark railroad station.''

Since the beginning of the fair 10 days ago, between 1,100 and 2,500 people daily have been touring the exhibition, officials said. This is the first time the fair has had such an exhibition, which has been put together from artifacts loaned by historical societies, houses and individuals throughout the county.

Items were grouped together enclosed in special glass cases for each of the lenders and ranged from old sepia photos of orange pickers on huge ladders in 1890 to turn-of-the-century woolen bathing suits for men and women that some moths may have enjoyed more than the wearers.

Janice Mastin-Kamp, who was visiting from Ohio, enjoyed the exhibition and marveled at the old bathing suits.

``I'm a teacher. So I'm always looking for things that bring history to life for kids,'' said Mastin-Kamp. ``Can you imagine wearing a wool bathing suit into water?''

Nearby was a white cotton wedding dress.

``And this wedding dress: I could imagine someone wearing that right now because the styles have not changed that much,'' said Mastin-Kamp, who teaches art, costuming and ethnic heritage to gifted middle-school children.

The blue-color chariot took up the single biggest space of all the exhibits. It and another were built by Adolfo Camarillo in 1915, and raced against each other pulled by four horses at fairs from 1915 to 1926 with the exception of 1917, when the World War I raged and the fair was canceled.

The chariots were also raced in the 1940s but have not been used for several years, the sport being deemed too dangerous, Terri Raley, the fair's publicist, said with a sigh.

Other exhibits included the history of the 1847 Olivas Adobe in Ventura, old livestock ribbons from past fairs and a beautiful bronze-color Western saddle with tassels and designs that was awarded to the best stock horse in 1947.

The most recent exhibit was a photograph from the Moorpark Historical Society's exhibit showing the members of the city's high school team who won the 1999 National Academic Decathlon competition at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The photograph was captioned: ``No matter what the new century may bring to Moorpark, our town's future looks mighty bright.''

FAIR FACTS

Today is the final day of the 1999 Ventura County Fair, which will run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Seaside Park (Harbor Boulevard and Figueroa Street) in Ventura.

Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for seniors age 55 and over; $3 for children ages 6-12; and children 5 and under are free.

Off-site parking is available with free shuttle service at the following locations: San Buenaventura State Beach ($5), Ventura County Government Center, Buenaventura Mall, Ventura High School and at the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Schooner Drive.

For additional information, call [phone] or log on to www.seasidepark.org.

All entertainment is free with fair admission.

Grandstand entertainment

2 and 7 p.m. Today: PRCA Rodeo featuring a special ``Salute to Mexico.''

Exhibits

Today: Simi Valley Historical Society & Museum

Contests and competitions

4 p.m. today: Egg Toss, entry fee $1 per team.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--2--Color) Cowboys lasso a calf during the rodeo portion of the Ventura County Fair on Saturday, above, as demonstrators protesting the rodeo's treatment of animals try to catch the attention of passers-by heading into the fairgrounds.

(3--Color--Ran in Conejo Edition only) Mitch Conlee of Ventura enjoys one sweet corn while holding another as he walks through the Ventura County Fair on Saturday looking for his wife.

(4--Color--Ran in Conejo Edition only) Stephanie Grant, left, of Camarillo and friend Trisha Fisher ride the smaller Ferris wheel.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News

BOX: FAIR FACTS (see text)