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Doris Case knows what it's like to find joy and victory in an ear of corn.

She first tasted that particular brand of happiness as a kid competing in agriculture competitions at the Prince George's County Fair in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her most brag-worthy year came when she beat her brother to win the corn competition, despite the fact they both showed corn grown on their Mitchellville farm.

"I just picked better corn than he did," Case said.

Case still lives on the same farm in Mitchellville. Her brother still lives next door, and they're still comparing their gardens. And she still loves the Prince George's County Fair, which starts Sept. 9 at the Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro and is scheduled to run through Sept. 12.

"Our traditions still stand," said Case, now a vice president of the fair. "We still have livestock and agriculture and competitions and handmade goods, and we still serve anything fried that can be put on a stick."

The Prince George's County Fair was first held in 1842, making it the oldest fair in the state. But the longevity doesn't mean the fair's offerings are stale, thanks to a cadre of volunteer organizers who take care to continually add new attractions to appeal to the fair's wide and changing audience.

"We are a very diverse community and county, and we really do try to include a little something for everyone," Case said.

Recent additions include a sculptor who carves artwork into lumber with a chainsaw, a popular feature from last year that will make a repeat appearance this year.

New additions this year include a ventriloquist, Clydesdale horses and a rodeo.

The "Painted Pony Rodeo" includes everything from bull riding to steer wrestling, and participants will be doing more than just performing — they'll be competing on a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned circuit.

"People come from all over the country, and they're competing for prize money and awards, which gives it a different kind of feel," said Karen Griffith, a vice president of the fair.

Admission to the rodeo will be included in fair admission, though fair-goers can buy ringside seats.

Case said the Clydesdale horses are as awe-inspiring as the rodeo is exciting.

"If you've ever stood next to one, you know that they're truly enormous," Case said. "No matter how tall you are, they make you feel so little."

The horses also provide a window into the area's agricultural history, Case said.

"These are the horses that helped to cultivate this area," Case said. "They remind us that 100 years ago, you couldn't sit in the air-conditioned cab of your tractor to work your fields."

It's all part of a larger trend toward offering a wider array of entertainment options, Case said. The fair is also working to reach new segments of the population, offering its first "military appreciation day" on Sept. 12, during which active-duty military members and their families get in free.

The fair's new features come in addition to traditional favorites, such as the Beautiful Baby Contest, agricultural exhibits, carnival rides, a petting zoo and pig and duck races.

The fair also plans to display a wide range of homemade goods, such as canning, preserving, baking, knitting and needlework, said Lora Tanner, who organizes the fair's arts division.

Home cooks will like that many artisans are happy to share their trade secrets.

"People usually have recipes for the pickles and jellies and jams they've made," Tanner said.

The same is true of exhibitors in the livestock competitions, Case said.

"All the exhibitors are proud of their animals, and are happy to answer questions about them," Case said. "People can feel free to ask about what they eat, how they're cared for or anything else they're curious about."

The goal of the fair has changed from serving as a gathering point for the county's farmers to serving as a window into farm life for suburban and urban residents, organizers said.

"So many things have changed over the years," Griffith said. "What's really great about the fair today is that it's good for kids as a learning experience. A lot of children don't understand that milk and eggs don't just come from cartons, but from animals they can see with their own eyes at the fair."

Case said she now derives her greatest joy from watching those kids react to the new and old offerings alike with the same enthusiasm she once did.

"I love sitting back and watching little kids interact with the animals," Case said. "To watch them see a pig or duck race for the first time, or to see the size of a cow, is just amazing."

If you go

Prince George's County Fair

When: 4 to 10 p.m. Sept. 9; 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 10; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 11; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 12.

Where: Show Place Arena and Prince George's Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, 14900 Pennsylvania Ave., Upper Marlboro

Tickets: $6; ages 6 to 11, $5; younger than 6, free. Active-duty military and their families admitted for free on Sept. 12.

More information: www.countyfair.org or 301-952-0270