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Sarah Huang, 15, of Rockville entered her chocolate almond biscotti in the Montgomery County Fair three years ago and did not win.

She worked on the recipe, tried again the following year and won a blue ribbon. Last year judges named Sarah's biscotti junior champion in cookies. She also won a special award for junior best entry in cookies and a blue ribbon for her white cake.

Sarah will begin baking Thursday for this year's fair — a yellow cake, a blueberry pie, gingerbread cookies, iced cupcakes and a few types of bread, but no biscotti.

"Once you reach grand champion, it's time to move on and try something new," she said.

Sarah became a champion baker through her 4-H Club, the Lucky Clovers, based in Aspen Hill.

Lucky Clover is a community 4-H Club that focuses on projects such as public speaking, baking, sewing, arts and crafts and healthy lifestyles. Like all 4-H Clubs, it promotes leadership and citizenship.

Club leader Cathy Dobos of Rockville compared 4-H with scouting.

"There's something special about 4-H — you get to do the fair," she said. "This is every 4-Her's favorite time of year."

Club members are encouraged to work on projects in the areas they find interesting, Dobos said. Five of her members, who range in age from 8 to 18, are interested in science.

Club members Philip Drum and John Schepis went to Lake Frank in Derwood on Friday to collect insects for their fair entries. Philip, 15, of Silver Spring added the water scorpion he found to his insect collection, which now numbers more than 300.

His exhibit won junior reserve champion in entomology at last year's fair.

Philip said he learned about the study of insects through 4-H. He also learned about gerbils; in the past year he has adopted two that he will exhibit at the fair. Entered in the small pet category, the gerbils will be judged on their sociability, coloration and general health.

"I like 4-H because of all the different kinds of projects you can go into," Philip said.

Heather Guernsey, 9, of Olney just graduated from being a 4-H Clover (ages 5-7) to a full-fledged member of the Lucky Clovers club.

She hopes to win an award in the educational division for a clay diorama she calls "Gagging in the Gulf."

The diorama depicts the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, with two clean dolphins and a sea turtle on one side of clay oil booms and a dead whale and sea turtle on the other side.

She also is entering a face mask, a poster on how to build a rocket, a decorated cake, some paintings and a pink sundress.

"I like entering stuff and going on field trips," Heather said.

In addition to working on projects, the Lucky Clovers go camping and on field trips, Dobos said. They also run a monthly program at the Aspen Hill Library, called Reading Buddies, to help children with their reading.

Through Reading Buddies Marka Hayes of Rockville discovered 4-H and enrolled her daughter, Alexis Joy, 10.

Alexis Joy is developmentally delayed and has autism-like issues, Hayes said.

"She has lots of challenges and it can be challenging to include her," she said.

The club has included Alexis Joy in many activities, including a camping trip her parents chaperoned and a scavenger hunt.

"It makes a big difference in her life to feel part of a group," Hayes said.

Alexis Joy baked muffins for the fair Monday at the home of Edith Williams.

Williams, of Aspen Hill has been helping the Lucky Clovers and other clubs with their baking entries since she retired from the state 4-H office 10 years ago.

"I like to see them grow and achieve. It increases their self-esteem," she said. "Sometimes I think I have more fun than they do."

She will help other club bakers with their baked goods for the fair Thursday and Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Aspen Hill.

"Last year was our best year. We had more blue ribbon cakes in the [fair] auction than any other club in the county."

IF YOU GO

-Friday: 3 p.m. to midnight

-Saturday to Aug. 21: 10 a.m. to midnight

CARNIVAL HOURS

-Friday: 3 p.m. to midnight

-Saturday to Aug. 21: Noon to midnight

RIDES

-$1 per ride ticket, sold in sheets of 20. Each ride takes two to five tickets per rider.

-All-you-can-ride one-day wristband: $25 (discounted to $9.95 on Friday; $15 on Monday and Aug. 18; available online for $20 until Saturday, for use on any one day of the fair).

PARKING

-Free shuttle from Lakeforest mall

-$5 at Perry Parkway entrance

ADMISSION

-Free admission for children 11 and younger

-$10 general admission

-$7 per person group rate (15 or more)

-$75 for nine-day passes

FOOD

The cost to eat at the fair ranges from about $5 for a small dish to $10 for a larger platter.

Culinary attractions

-Hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, turkey legs, crab cakes, barbecue, tacos, ice cream, fried Oreos, fried Twinkies and funnel cake.

-At "The Big Cheese" stand, 3,000 pounds of aged Wisconsin cheddar will go into grilled cheese sandwiches ($3 for one, $5.50 for two, $5.50 for a sandwich with a pickle and drink), cheese curds ($2.25) and nachos ($2.50).

-The Golden Bull restaurant will host sit-down meals in an air-conditioned space.

ONLINE RESOURCES

-For information, go to www.mcagfair.com.

-Look for daily fair coverage at www.gazette.net/montgomeryfair/.