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Thirteen-year-old Tommy Lazzari stays up late these days feeding his steers, Jake and Elwood. In the cool of the evening, he walks them gently around an imaginary show ring in the small pasture behind his Dayton house.Last winter, the Howard County youth braved the ice on that same hilly pasture, as he and his father, John Lazzari, wrestled metal gates and canvas into a lean-to to keep the animals from freezing.It'll start to pay off this Saturday when Tommy enters his cattle in the 50th annual Howard County Fair, an annual rite that gives farm youngsters -- and, increasingly, their suburban cousins -- the chance to display their agricultural prowess.

"TC Name: Ben FairHonored by The Carroll County Sun for: aking top honors in a 4-H national shooting event in New Mexico earlier this summerAge: 16Residence; hometown: Manchester; BaltimoreEducation: Junior at North Carroll High School in HampsteadFamily: Father: Melvin Fair Jr. of Uniontown; mother: Ginny Fair, biology teacher at North Carroll; sister: Marti, 17, senior at North CarrollPlace of worship: St. John's United Methodist Church in HampsteadActivities/hobbies: Hunting, fishing and raising turkeys and pheasantsAccomplishments: Honor Roll member since the seventh grade; selected Mr. 4-H this summer; 4-H Clover Award winner in 1992; vice president of the Car roll County 4-H Outdoor FunNominations: Call 876-8771, 857-0550 or (800)

HAMPSTEAD -- The Black Rock 4-H Club has announced its officers for 1991.They are: Laura Kaminski, president; Mike Buckley, vice president; Chris Sterner, secretary; Heath Geiman, treasurer; and Lisa Buckley, reporter.A woodworking shop meets twice a week for members who want to place items in the 1991 county 4-H fair. George Rappoldt and Burnell Hoff are teaching basic wood projects at John Sterner's farm.The club meets the second Tuesday of each month at a member's home. The March meeting will be Tuesday at the Hales' near Hampstead.

Name: Shirley Geis, of Clarksville.Hobbies and other activities: Mrs. Geis is active in the Trotter Road community association and a leader in 4-H. She swims three times a week in the Splash program at Howard Community College. She has two horses and five dogs.Organization's Comments: Mrs. Geis has been a volunteer for 26 years with 4-H. She heads the Spur and Stirrup Club, which meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Linden-Linthicum United Methodist Church in Clarksville from September to April.

The Howard County Fairgrounds are at Exit 80 of Interstate 70 in West Friendship. The fair ends Saturday. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Parking is free. Admission is free for children younger than 10, $4 for age 10 and older; and $2 for seniors 62 and older. Information and complete schedule: www.howardcountyfair.com or 410-442-1022. Today: Seniors admitted free 9 a.m. to noon. Rides $1 each all day; 8 a.m., Arabian, half-Arabian and open horse shows; 9 a.m., Shetland and Welsh pony shows; 10 a.m., senior expo.

CHRISTMAS PLANNING may be over for you, but it's just begun for those interested in Christmas in April, the one-day national effort to fix up houses for low-income and elderly homeowners who cannot afford to do it themselves.Each April, teams of students, parents and staff members from Glenwood and Mount View middle schools and other local groups participate in Christmas in April projects. To raise funds, Glenwood Middle School's teachers will take on Mount View teachers in a basketball game Jan. 26 at Glenwood.

Mount Airy 4-H club helps Florida kidsEllen Bonde and her group of Mount Airy 4-H Clovers are leading an effort to help some of Dade County's youngest victims of Hurricane Andrew.Mrs. Bonde contacted a friend living in central Florida, who also is a club leader, to see what 4-H kids could do to help in the hurricane relief effort."I wanted to make sure [the supplies] got into the hands that needed them," she said.After several calls, Mrs. Bonde reached representatives from the Dade County 4-H, who vowed to take donations sent to them and personally deliver the supplies to schools hardest hit by the hurricane.

The 50th Annual Howard County Fair Book was the best thing to come in the mail recently. The book details everything about the fair, which begins Aug. 12.This year's Howard County Fair is an important milestone in our community, according to fair President Rob Moxley. Members of the Howard County Fair Board invite you to participate in this year's fair as an exhibitor, a volunteer or a visitor.Call 442-1022 to reach the Howard County Fair Board or 313-2707 for more information about 4-H.*Heather Rynarzewski, a 16-year-old member of the Daisy Agriculture 4-H Club, will represent Howard County on the State 4-H Teen Council, where she will help coordinate statewide involvement of teen-agers in 4-H programs.

Extension office to begin series of workshops this week The Carroll County Extension Office will offer its Winter Wednesday Series of workshops dealing with agriculture topics from 10 a.m. to noon weekly through March 9. Upcoming workshops include: Wednesday: Soil fertility and nutrient management topics by Frank Coale, extension specialist on the topics. Feb. 2: Automatic Milking System Conference at the Grange Hall in Hagerstown. Feb. 9: "Let's Talk Hay and Pasture" by Lester Vough, extension specialist, forage systems management.