All the kids who signed up for the first ever “Mutton Bustin’” contest at the Topsham Fair got a chance Tuesday night to see how far they could ride a sheep without falling off.

With family members and other curious fairgoers lined around the pulling ring, one-by-one a contestant, all 8-year-olds, would approach announcer Hope Ricker once their helmet, wrist, elbow and knee pads were on and secure. They’d tell the audience their name and with help from volunteers Mitchell White, Ryan Gibson and Dana Brown, crawl on the back of one of the sheep lent to the fair for the event. Because sheep stay in herds, when released, the kid-toting sheep would run for the sheep pen located in the middle of the ring and their mount would hold on as long as possible.

“If the sheep doesn’t want to go, the sheep will lay down,” Ricker told the audience at the start of the Mutton Bustin. “The history is that the kids take more of a beating than the sheep do. These sheep can withstand a lot.”

Many of the sheep quickly disposed themselves of their riders, yet others hung on all the way to the sheep pen. To the delight of the audience, one contestant needed some help after neither his first or second sheep wanted to move and just stood at the start line. But after some gentle prodding from a volunteer, sheep No. 2 took off toward the sheep pen and the rider held on long and tight.

The Topsham Fair continues today through Sunday. For information visit www.topshamfair.net.