1. Adventures in Agriculture on Saturday will feature cool cows, racing goats, hot dogs and a tortoise show

Hot dogs being served at a farmers market is one of the few anomalies in agriculture at the Adventures in Agriculture educational festival Saturday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Returning for a second year, the free family event highlights such local ag assets as farms, farm-fresh fare, floriculture, 4-H clubs, fine art and (another f-word) the Ventura County Fair.

The tortoise show at the new Fishes and Friends building is agriculturally tangential, but at least more natural than frankfurters, unless they're veggie dogs.

At the farmers market, local growers and nurseries will sell food and flora. The hot dogs, provided by Wyndham Hotels, are free.

The Beef Show sounds like an appropriate place for hot dogs, but is actually an all-day display and parade of cattle and livestock by the Ventura County Young Cattlemen's Association.

Agricultural exhibits will feature information, product samples and demonstrations from ag businesses and organizations, including Underwood Farms, Bennett's Honey Farm, John Deere, Ventura County 4-H, California Women in Agriculture, California Coastal Horse Rescue, Limoneira and more.

Children's activities will include cow-milking lessons, a hay pyramid, petting zoo, pony rides, animal shows and a race whose runners/waddlers are a goat, pig, sheep and duck.

Paintings and machinery will be on display, including agriculture-themed fine art by local artists Gail Pidduck and John Nichols, shiny modern farm equipment, and the Topa Topa Flywheelers' slightly more ancient vintage tractors.

A professional bull riding show that kicks off with a synchronized horse show will take place at 3 p.m. in the Grandstand Arena.

Longtime Ventura County Fair musical duo the Tune Bandits will perform, along with the Iron Mountain Boys and Mexican folk dancers.

In McBride Hall, the Ventura County Fair will host Adventures in History, an exhibit of memorabilia from past fairs, including scrapbooks, newspaper articles and award ribbons.

Ah, perhaps that's the connection. Along with cotton candy and blue-ribbon homemade condiments, hot dogs are a quintessential fair food.

Admission to the festival is free; tickets to the bull riding show are $15. For information, call 648-3376 or visit http://venturacountyfair.org.

[ Hagman[']s heaven ]

2. J.R. for NPR

Here's your chance to support National Public Radio without hearing the KCLU phone number endless times during an on-air membership drive. Plus, you get to hang out at a celeb's house. On Saturday, TV icon Larry Hagman — Capt. Tony Nelson on "Bewitched" and the guy who got shot on "Dallas" — and his wife, Maj, are hosting a fundraiser for local NPR station KCLU at their Heaven Ranch in Ojai from 2 to 5 p.m., with a celebrity luncheon at noon for higher-paying guests. $150 to $10,000. Reservations: http://www.kclu.org.

[ historical drama ]

3. Civil War crimes

In 1865, Henry Wirz went on trial for war crimes. He had been commander of the Andersonville military prison in Georgia during the Civil War, where nearly 13,000 Union soldiers died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition and overcrowding. According to Wirz, he was just following orders. Saul Levitt's 1959 play "The Andersonville Trial," based on the trial's transcript, will open Friday at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through June 15, 403 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. $15-$20. 381-1246.

[ Natural diversity ]

4. BioBlitz post-party

After scientists and naturalists of all ages spend 24 hours counting species of bugs, critters and flowers during the Santa Monica Mountains BioBlitz, everyone's invited to the Celebrate Biodiversity Festival at Paramount Ranch. Hosted by the National Geographic Society and National Park Service, the Earth-friendly family festival will feature live music by the Banana Slug String Band (pictured), animal demonstrations, hikes, crafts and more. BioBlitz: noon Friday to noon Saturday. Festival: 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday. 2903 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills. 800-638-6400, ext. 6186; http://www.nationalgeographic.com/bioblitz.

[ health fest ]

5. Fitness to be tried

Run! Walk! Bike! Eat vegetables! Compost! You can do all these and more when the Ventura Unified School District and Ventura Educational Partnership throw a fitness fair this weekend. The third annual Summerfest will offer a 5K run/walk, sports clinics, a bike rodeo, climbing wall, health screenings, environmental activities, live entertainment and health food court. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, VUSD, 255 W. Stanley Ave., Ventura. Free ($5-$23 entry fee for 5K race). http://www.vep4vusd.org.