Hard physical work every day, in all types of weather, through all seasons.

Oliver Kressley, 17, loves it.

Kressley of Andreas has been involved in 4-H for six years.

The Tamaqua Area High School senior knows how to do things the majority of the population does not — he can raise a pig or steer to a hefty market size, prune apple trees, plant and harvest agricultural crops and fix just about any piece of farm equipment.

Kressley, and other young men and women involved in the farming industry, are the stars of the show at the Schuylkill County Fair, which opened Monday. Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Reading, state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, Schuylkill Fair President Paul Kennedy and Schuylkill County Commissioners George Halcovage, Gary Hess and Frank Staudenmeier were on hand to celebrate the day.

The Schuylkill County Fair has been a showcase of the farming industry since 1983. It’s easy to find, just east of the intersection of Routes 183 and 895 in Summit Station. The fair runs through Saturday, with the gates opening at 4 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. General admission is $5, with children 10 and younger admitted free.

Events include tractor pulls, truck pulls, a horse show, and competitions in hay bale tossing, milk chugging and ethnic cooking. Events culminate Saturday with Family Fun Day, which features an antique tractor pull, livestock judging, the 4-H/Future Farmers of America Master Showman contest, a princess parade and baby parade.

Musical entertainment is scheduled daily at the M & T Bank Stage, with the Amish Outlaws headlining the fair Saturday.

Tonight at the fair:

5 p.m. Schuylkill County wine cooking contest

5:30 p.m. Pedal tractor pull

6:30 p.m. Youth obstacle course

7 & 9 p.m. Sapphire

7 p.m. Lucas Oil / East Coast National Pull.

Wednesday highlights:

• Tractor parade at 4:30 p.m.

• Rhythm and Brews, acoustic trio bringing your favorite party music to the main stage at 5 p.m.

• Kyle Schutt presents “Latest on West Nile & Spotted Lantern Fly” at 6:30 p.m.

• Close encounters of the Exotic Kind animal display, 6 and 8 p.m.

For a complete schedule of events and times, go to www.schuylkillfair.com.