Ventura County Fair Academic Rodeo expands

The annual Academic Rodeo at the Ventura County Fair has announced a new division of the competition known as "The Ponies." Teams of children in fourth and fifth grades are now invited to compete in this annual summertime academic challenge.

The Academic Rodeo is a team competition for children now in,

or having just completed grades four and five for the Ponies, and Grades six, seven and eight for the older group known as the Stallions. Teams must be composed of at least four members, but no more than six, with only four competitors at one time. A total of nine teams will compete.

The competition, which will be staged at the 2006 Ventura County Fair, will include timed quizzes, toss-up questions, vocabulary definitions, and for the Academic Stallions, a spelling bee. Prizes are awarded, and there is no fee to enter. Subjects are varied and random and may include math, geography, history, current events, science and much more.

For more information, and to register a team, call (805) 6483376 or visit the website www. vcacademicrodeo.atfreeweb.com.