Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon state fair starts in Salem Friday. And, as Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, a national lumberjack championship is expected to draw big crowds. 

In among the prize sheep, blue ribbons and extra large vegetables this year, 43 lumberjacks from across the country will compete for the title of Stihl Timbersports National Champion. 

Aptly named Mike Forrester, a 44-year-old contractor from Glide, Oregon, competes almost every weekend during the summer and says it's a lot of fun.

Mike Forrester: "If you get a nice axe that matches the block of wood. It's kind of effortless, you're swinging it. You know it makes you feel good. You get a high off it of a little bit."

The fair runs through Labor Day. Tickets are $11 and as many as 375,000 people are expected.

Also on show are 4-H competitions, named for 'Head, Heart, Hands and Health,' a carnival, 80 food booths and a chance to sample 200 award winning Oregon wines.

No home brews are allowed. But a bill is expected to try to change that in the next legislature.