Duck Dynasty’ stars host evening at Porter County Fair

VALPARAISO | The 2013 Porter County Fair is proud to welcome an evening with Willie and Korie Robertson from A&E's Duck Dynasty. Willie and Korie will join us for a fun -filled evening with a portion of the proceeds going to the Porter County Food Banks.

Butterfield pavilion: From horse barn to Galacti-Con

VALPARAISO | The Butterfield Family Pavilion at Fairgrounds Park has seen a lot since its Depression-era construction in the 1930s, from its days as an animal barn for the Porter County Fair to the upcoming Galacti-Con gaming convention in October.

Roosters strut and crow at Porter County Fair

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | The Porter County Fair turned into a whole lotta cock-a-doodle-doo Friday morning as the annual rooster crowing contest took place in the rabbit/poultry barn. Owners pulled out every trick to make the roosters strut their stuff.

PHIL AT THE PHAIR: Bidding a fond fair-well to the Porter County Fair

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | As I carefully clip the final re-admission stamp for this year's 162nd Porter County Fair from the back of my hand, let's look back at some of the precious memories I will be trying to forget until the 163rd fair.

PHIL AT THE PHAIR: The Olympic spirit lives at the Porter County Fair

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | The Olympics start today in London but those events are just games. The real athletic challenges can be seen at the Porter County Fair.

In stride: Mounted posse still a part of Porter County Fair

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | If untrained, most horses would want nothing to do with the amount of people, noises and excitement of a county fair.

PHIL AT THE PHAIR: Baby, it's hot at fair. Baby? Where's baby?

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | One of the great mysteries of my many visits to the Porter County Fair so far has been people pushing empty baby strollers.

PHIL AT THE PHAIR: Bird rescue or robin the cradle?

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | The heat had Monday's visitors to the Porter County Fair dropping like overheated humans.

Porter County Fair's showmanship contest helps develop leaders

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | As boys and girls dressed in plaid, button-down shirts, jeans, shiny belt buckles and boots used their sticks to guide their swine around the livestock arena Monday night, Carolyn Van Vuren watched her grandson in the showmanship competition.

PHIL AT THE PHAIR: The only colonel I want to obey is Sanders

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | I'm not much of a "military" kind of guy. First of all, soldiers have to get up way too early for me. And then there's all that marching and following orders and stuff. I'd rather be all I can be from a lawn chair.

Hot Chelle Rae rocks Porter County Fair

VALPARAISO | With their brand new single "I Like It Like That," the Nashville-based quartet Hot Chelle Rae (Ryan Follese, Nash Overstreet,Ian Keaggy and Jamie Follese) wowed the crowd on Sunday at the Porter County Fair.

Gallery: Porter County Fair, Saturday, July 21

View and purchase photos from the Porter County Fair on July 21, 2012.

'Heavy duty' culinary creations

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | “Epic.” That’s how Jeff Weitzel, 4-H Barbecue Project superintendant, described Erik McGinley’s bacon-wrapped shrimp with jalapeno sauce.

Fair business

Members of the Union Volunteer Fire Department pass out smoke detectors at the Porter County Fair on Saturday.

Fair business

Jasmine Rudicel, 10, of Twelve Mile, Ind. tries to keep her lamb "Scarlet" under control Saturday at the Porter County Fair.

Fair business

Jasmine Rudicel, 10, of Twelve Mile, Ind. looks to Brad Angus, of Ottawa, Ill. on Saturday as he judges her lamb "Scarlet" at the Porter County Fair.

Fair business

Victoria Nowlin, left, owner of Scented Seasons in Valparaiso, assists LaPorte residents Judy Hammons and her daughter Jennifer Hammons, right, with their candle purchases at the Porter County Fair Saturday.

Fair business

Victoria Nowlin, left, owner of Scented Seasons in Valparaiso, assists LaPorte residents Judy Hammons and her daughter Jennifer Hammons, right, on Saturday with their candle purchases at the Porter County Fair.