Local dignitaries will help launch the Benton County Fair today with a cow-milking competition in which proceeds will be donated to local charities.

The contestants will participate in the "milk-off" this afternoon as part of opening ceremonies for the fair. A noon parade through the fairgrounds precedes a flag-raising ceremony at 12:10 p.m. The cow-milking contest follows on the fair's main stage.

County District Attorney Scott Heiser is entered and collecting pledges for the Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence and ABC House, a child advocacy center for Benton and Linn counties.

"It's been fun for the folks in the office getting ready for this," Heiser said. "I've been extensively training my wrists. I'm concerned about some injuries I've received in the training regimen, but I think I'll be ready to go."

County Commissioner Linda Modrell, milking to benefit the Benton County 4-H program, has recruited several friends, plus a group of 4-Hers to cheer her on with songs, applause and signs reading "GO MOODRELL," which fits right in with the fair's theme, "Moovin' and Groovin'."

Also participating in the contest will be Commissioners Jay Dixon and Annabelle Jaramillo, assessor Doug Hillpot, Lavern Pitts from the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation, Mark Balzer, chair of the fair board, and Dr. Charles Estill of the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

For this and more milking contests throughout the week, the fair has fashioned its "cows" out of plywood, plastic water containers and large rubber teats, which are usually used for feeding small calves. Children from OSU's KidSpirit summer program painted each wooden cow in a different black-and-white, spotted Holstein pattern.

Several milking contests will be held daily. Contestants will be selected on the spot at each event. The first open milk-off will be at 4:15 p.m. today on the Central Plaza Stage.