DARLINGTON - This year's Lafayette County Fair will feature some new events as well as traditional favorites.

The fair begins Wednesday and continues through Sunday at the Lafayette County Fairgrounds in Darlington. The annual five-day event, which draws between 12,000 and 15,000 people per year, will include bull riding, tractor pulls, a skid steer challenge and stock car racing.

Fair week will kick off with bull riding and barrel racing for adults, and "Mutton Bustin'" for youth, according to Lafayette County Fair board chairman Bill Moody. The Mutton Bustin' is a competition for children to ride sheep and attempt to stay on the longest.

"It's funny to watch," Moody said, explaining sheep try their hardest to throw the kids off.

This will be the second year for the event: The fair ran Mutton Bustin' last year, but this year, the same company running the bull ride and barrel racing, T&C Rodeo, will handle the event.

The first night will be concluded with a firework show, Moody said.

Thursday night will bring the annual tractor pull consisting of local participants.

Saturday's grandstand event will include the Badger State Tractor pull, which attracts people from throughout Midwest, Moody said.

"It draws the most people every year," he added.

Saturday's pull will include the Silver Series, which are top-of-the-line tractors designed for more racing-type pulls, Moody said.

"You don't get to see (Silver Series pulls) very often," he said.

The final day will include lawn mower pulling, a singing contest, skid steer challenge, crash car and trailer races.

Gate admission is $9 on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Children ages 9 to 12 are $2, and under 8 are free. Admission is free on Friday but it will cost $10 to attend the stock car races.

Season tickets cost $25 and can be purchased at the fair office during the fair.