FAIR BEGINNINGS; WORK UNDER WAY IN EARNEST AS EVENT NEARS.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

Dozens of workers and volunteers are assembling booths, setting up carnival rides, judging entries and cleaning stages, getting ready for the 61st Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival.

While the fair won't start until Aug. 27, the fair staff has been working for weeks to set up exhibits and attractions at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.

``These volunteers really work,'' said Handicrafts Chairwoman Jackie Martin, as she directed people hanging paintings, labeling entries and shoving a 4-foot-tall hand-carved wooden elephant into position in Challenger Memorial Hall. ``We get here about 8 (a.m.) and work about 12 hours a day. We try to get out of here earlier in the evening.''

The fair will open at 4 p.m. Aug. 27 and will close Sept. 6.

It will kick off its first week with an ``Udderly Magic'' lineup of performers, including Weird Al Yankovic and Beach Boys' Family and Friends, Sawyer Brown and Kansas, Emilio, Martina McBride and John Michael Montgomery, Bill Hailey's Comets, Styx, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Tickets for the featured concerts are $25 for track, $20 for grandstand and $15 for bleacher seating.

Tejano musician Emilio will perform a free grandstand concert event at 8 p.m. Aug. 29 followed by Bill Haley's Comets at 8 p.m. Aug. 31.

Professional Bull Riding, Figure 8 racing, the rural olympics, a demolition derby, a monster truck show and motorcycle racing will fill the grandstands on the final five days.

The first week's free stage entertainment will be country musician Billy Dean, with albums including ``Fire in the Dark,'' ``Young Man,'' and his self-titled album, followed by Junior Brown, whose songs include ``Keepin' Up With You,'' ``Stupid Blues'' and ``Read 'Em and Weep.''

Survivor and the Smokin' Armadillos will perform the second week on the free stage.

Tickets are available at the fairgrounds, 155 E. Ave. I in Lancaster, and through Ticketmaster. For more information on the concert events or other scheduled events, call [phone].

The days leading up to the fair pack in a lot of work.

``We've had the judging for the handicrafts and wood and then we'll do the clothing and textiles, trees, porcelain dolls and then ceramics,'' said Handicrafts Superintendent Yvonne Cahill. ``We've got antique glass coming up, too. We've been doing all this since about the 9th. It's a long process.''

In the handicrafts and wood exhibition area alone, volunteers must organize more than 500 craft pieces and nearly as many in each of the six remaining categories. About as many entries are expected in the 4-H categories.

``Overall we have more entries this year and it's going to be much better,'' said Cahill.

``We strive to make it bigger and better each year in every part of the fair,'' said Martin. ``We have some beautiful work this year and the kids' imaginations, their stuff is just great.''

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4 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) A forklift moves soil into an agricultural mechanics exhibit in preparation for the A.V. Fair and Alfalfa Festival.

(2--3--Color) Above, Patricia Horney of Lake Los Angeles judges ceramics as her grandson, A.J. Horney, 7, watches. Left, flowers await their spot in an agricultural mechanics exhibit at the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival.

(4) A carnival worker sets up the Super Bolt ride as work begins on this year's Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer