Jessica Dunteman, 9, of Big Rock rests with one of her hogs before their turn to show during the first day of the Kane County Fair in St. Charles Wednesday.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

A Siberian Tiger stands up to take a bite of raw meat on a stick offered by a fair goer on the first day of the Kane County Fair Wednesday in St. Charles. The Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary of Florida has daily shows with several large cats. People can also buy a turn to feed a cat.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

A tiger rolls his tongue in the heat on the first day of the Kane County Fair Wednesday in St. Charles. The Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary has daily shows with several large cats.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

A young rider practices on the first day of the Kane County Fair Wednesday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Chelsea Danforth, 17, of St. Charles cools herself and her silky chicken before their turn to show during the first day of the Kane County Fair in St. Charles Wednesday.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

John Lenz, 6, of Maple Park attacks his strawberry ice cream cone during the first day of the Kane County Fair in St. Charles Wednesday. He's a 4-H member who showed sheep earlier in the day.

Rick West | Staff Photographer

Yo-Yo riders enjoy the cool breeze on the first day of the Kane County Fair Wednesday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Ducks from New Mexico race at The Great Duck Race daily show on the first day of the Kane County Fair Wednesday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Paden Thompson, 8, of St. Charles, gets smothered with kisses from four-month-old jersey calf, Peanut, while they wait for their turn to show in the Jersey Junior Hefer category at the Kane County Fair on Thursday, July 19. Peanut's sandpaper-like tongue left Paden's cheek a rosy color afterward. Peanut and her sister, Clover, are calves from Primrose Farm in St. Charles. Paden and his sister, Emily, 11, are volunteers and have taken care of the calves ever since they were born. Peanut happened to be born on Paden's birthday. "I just like sitting with them and working with them," says Paden. The 4H program at Primrose Farm gets suburban kids who don't live on a farm a chance to be involved in the farm program.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

A diesel pickup blows black smoke as it pulls the sled down the 260-foot track during a Truck Pull competition at the Kane County Fair Thursday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Water drips from the muzzle of a Holstein cow after taking a long drink of cold water during second day of the Kane County Fair on Thursday, July 19.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Thomas Modoff, 12, of Naperville sprays water on his pigs to help keep them cool during the second day of the Kane County Fair on Thursday, July 19. Modoff has been showing pigs for five years.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Pigs in the Crossbreed Barrow category in the 255-265 weight class scamper out into the ring for judging during the second day of the Kane County Fair on Thursday, July 19. Barrow means the pigs have been castrated.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Brittani Koning of Pecatonia shoves another first place ribbon for her sheep in her back pocket during the second day of the Kane County Fair on Thursday, July 19.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Grace Shanks of DeKalb gives Giggity, a four-year-old Brown Swiss dairy cow, a peck on the forehead before she hands her off to her brother, Philip, for showing during the second day of the Kane County Fair on Thursday, July 19. Philip, whose farm is in Juda, WI, was showing 16 dairy cows of three different breeds at the show. Grace and Philip grew up taking care and showing dairy cattle since they were "old enough to walk," says Grace. They have 65 cows on the farm.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Austin Risley, 10, of Esmond, IL, watches pig judging during the second day of the Kane County Fair on Thursday, July 19. Risley, along with his brother, Zac, 18, left, show steers but were helping out friends from Naperville who were showing their pigs.

Laura Stoecker | Staff Photographer

Bull riders suit up next to their mounts Saturday at the Championship Bull Riding event at the Kane County Fair in St. Charles.

Christian Gossin | Staff Photographer

Bull riders ready the bulls for the first qualifying round during the Championship Bull Riding event at the Kane County Fair Saturday in St. Charles.

Christian Gossin | Staff Photographer

Bull riders wait for their introductions before the first qualifying round of the Championship Bull Riding event on the third day of the Kane County Fair in St. Charles Saturday.

Christian Gossin | Staff Photographer

The Kane County Fair as viewed from the top of the Ferris wheel Saturday in St. Charles.

Christian Gossin | Staff Photographer

Abigal DeDina, 12, of Hampshire competes in the girls 8-14 division of the Milking Derby at the Kane County Fair Saturday.

Christian Gossin | Staff Photographer

Scout Bernard, 2, of Chicago visits the horse stables at the Kane County Fair in St. Charles Saturday. Children had the opportunity to pet a variety of farm animals including horses, cows and pigs under the watch of the animals' owners.

Christian Gossin | Staff Photographer

AJ Lenkaitis, 6, of St. Charles tries both hands at milking a cow Saturday at the Kane County Fair's Milking Derby in St. Charles.

Christian Gossin | Staff Photographer

Wearing a thong over his jeans after losing a bet, Michael Brancecum of St. Charles works on his car after qualifying for the Championship round of the Demolition Derby at the Kane County Fair Sunday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Sam Barris of Lake Zurich grimaces as he is hit during the Demolition Derby at the Kane County Fair Sunday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Danielle Engel of Marengo and the Burlington Ag 4-H Club, shows her Reserve Grand Champion Steer at the 2012 Kane County Fair 4-H Blue Ribbon Sale Sunday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Michael Brancecum of St. Charles laughs with Randy Ellis of Belvidere before the Championship heat of the Demolition Derby at the Kane County Fair Sunday in St. Charles. Ellis won the event.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Blake and Brooke Sunderlage of the Burlington Ag. 4-H Club lead their champions into the sale arena at the 2012 Kane County Fair 4-H Blue Ribbon Sale Sunday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Paul Reid of Hampshire talks with an official during the Demolition Derby at the Kane County Fair Sunday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

A mud-splattered official walks past the arena between heats of the Demolition Derby at the Kane County Fair Sunday in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Madison Kleba, 14, performs an opera called La Pastorella Delle Alpi Monday night at the 29th Annual Kane County Fair Talent Contest in the Prairie Events Center at the fairgrounds in St. Charles. She is from Campton Hills.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Alexis Nguyen, 13, of Pingree Grove, performs Good Girl Monday night at the 29th Annual Kane County Fair Talent Contest in the Prairie Events Center at the fairgrounds in St. Charles.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Eleven-year-old Kiersten Larsen sings What It Means To Be A Friend onstage Monday night at the 29th Annual Kane County Fair Talent Contest in the Prairie Events Center at the fairgrounds in St. Charles. She is from South Elgin.

John Starks | Staff Photographer