The Second Annual Hay Dayz is less than two months away and there are already plans to grows.

Last year’s event was hindered by rain, which mostly kept crowds away from the site set up near the old Culpepper Warehouse.

The keystone event from last year, the hay bale art contest, will return for another year as will the talent show and carnival rides.

Among the new additions this year will be an animal noise contest, raft races, a lawnmower race and a pie baking contest.

As September 10 nears – the date of this year’s festivities – participants are encouraged to hone their talents.

Event organizers are hoping to see a big turnout for the pie baking contests where one local baker will walk away with bragging rights as the best pie maker in the county for a year.

“We were just looking for something that is a good old county fair kind of event,” said Chrissy Brooker, one of the event’s organizers. “A contest like this is fun and its family friendly.”

Brooker noted as word spread of the new contest, people of all ages began to contact her with questions.

“My niece is going to enter, and she’s 11,” she said. “And she makes a mean pie.”

The pie contest will feature two divisions: meringue and non-meringue. Contestants may enter one pie in each category.

The entry fee is $5 per pie and contestant will be required to provide the recipe for their entry and turn in two identical pies per entry; one for the judges and one for a pie auction following the crowning of the winners.

“After the pies are judged and winners are awarded, we’ll auction off the second pie,” Brooker said of the event, which is fundraiser for the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce and Demopolis City Schools Foundation. “The auction will be open to the public and anyone can bid.”

For questions about Hay Dayz or any of the contests, please contact the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce at 289-0270.