“We consider ourselves wildlife artists,” said J.D. Sorensen, a taxidermist who’s in charge of the Utah County Fair’s taxidermy competition. “We’re not redneck hillbillies. It takes skill, talent and artistic ability.”

This will be the sixth year that hobby and professional taxidermists have gotten together to compete and learn more about their trade at the Utah County Fair.

Sorensen said he grew up seeing the taxidermy competition at the county fair, but that ended when the fair moved away from Spanish Fork. When it returned, Sorensen said he started calling organizers, asking if they were bringing it back. Then one year, they called him and said, “If you want it, you do it.” He did, and it’s been happening every year since.

The categories for the competition are youth (ages 0-16), novice (the category for anyone over 16), professional (for the skilled taxidermist) and master (for those with refined skills), he said.

This year’s judges are world champion taxidermists who are also from Utah, David Ferguson and Scott Humble. “They’re both very passionate about helping others and keeping the art of taxidermy alive,” Sorensen said.

Sorensen said the judges aren’t as strict for the novice category, but for the master group they’re looking for all kinds of anatomy.

“You should be able to look up the nose and see all the anatomy,” he said. “It needs to be able to breathe and walk.”

Sorensen said participants aren’t really competing against each other as much as against themselves, and the contest is really more about learning. Participants get a one-on-one critique from the judges and get advice and education on how to improve.

“You can learn more from going to a competition than going to college or apprenticing in taxidermy,” he said.

The competition has been growing each year, and last year they had 32 pieces, including a full-size grizzly bear standing on top of a buffalo. This year he’s heard it will be the biggest show yet.

Sorensen has been trying to spread the word about taxidermy, hoping to get the younger generation involved. The kids who compete in the stock shows are the biggest attendee group every year, and he’d love to see them involved. “That would be success to me.”

In addition to the judging, there will be live demonstrations with a taxidermist mounting an animal — they try to do a bird, fish and mammal, he said. People can watch and ask questions.

Most people new to the art are surprised to learn that there isn’t any bone or meat inside a mounted animal.

“Education is what the fair is all about anyway,” he said.

The mounts will be on display during the fair. They’ll take entries on Aug. 15 and 16, and the live demonstrations will be on Aug. 19 and 20. Times will be posted on the fair’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/utahcountyfair. If you want to enter or for more information about the competition, email Sorensen at jdstaxi@juno.com. The entry fee is $10, and it’s free to see.

Taxidermy isn’t the only unique thing happening at the Utah County Fair this year.

Wild about monkeys

Kevin and Martina Keith will do three 30-minute live animal shows each day of the fair. People can meet the Keiths and their animal family and take photos after each show. For more information about the show, go to http://monkeybusinessprod.com/index.html.

Oak Hills Vaulters

During 25-minute performances, these gymnasts will pose, jump and twist in rhythm while riding a horse. For more information, go to oakhillsvaulters.com.