From left, Dirk Hawley, Pioneer; Abram Hart, Jackson; Stevens Price, Sutter Creek; Danny Walters-O'Neal, Pine Grove and Matthew Dickerson, Elk Grove, will compete in the Amador County Fair Survivor competition. Not pictured are Survivors Frank Thomas, Jackson and Patrick Scanlon, also of Jackson. Photo by: Bethany A. Monk

Seven men will brave the Amador heat for four days during the county fair, where they will live in a tent, have no access to money, eat only fair food and participate in events such as the Diaper Derby, Amador Idol and several other competitions.

The first ever Amador County Fair Survivor Competition will take place during the fair, Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug. 2. The contestants will live on the fairgrounds the entire time and will be asked to complete several tasks. The winner will be awarded $500 and an additional $500 will be given to the winner's favorite local charity. The idea for the Amador County Fair Survivor contest, based on the CBS television series with the same name, is the brainchild of local residents Jamie Lubenko, Troy Bowers, Jim Guidi and Denise Elliot. Brandi Ehlers, news director at HomeTown Radio, has volunteered to help coordinate and run the event.

Amador Survivor contestants include: Danny Walters-O'Neal, Frank Thomas, Matthew Dickerson, Abram Hart, Patrick Scanlon, Dirk Hawley and Stevens Price. Five of the seven contestants met with Ehlers Wednesday afternoon at the fairgrounds in Plymouth for a Survivor orientation and question and answer session. Each contestant - except Thomas and Scanlon - spoke with the Ledger Dispatch about their reasons for wanting to join the competition. Thomas and Scanlon were unavailable for interviews before press time Thursday.

The contestants include:

Danny Walters-O'Neal, 24, Pine Grove

Walters-O'Neal, who is playing for A Christmas to Remember, said he got the idea to try out for the competition from a friend. When asked what makes him a great candidate, he said that he's been in several eating contests and has killed, skinned and eaten a rattlesnake. The Amador native has been attending the fair his entire life and has missed only one or two fairs.

He chose A Christmas to Remember, he said, because his parents have always been involved in the organization, which helps provide presents for low-income children.

"It's always nice seeing how they were able to have all the stuff they needed," he said.

What's he looking forward to the most during the Survivor competition? "I think the eating contest," he said. He won a hot-wings-eating contest at Sacramento Hooters, where he ate 40 hot wings in four minutes.

Matthew Dickerson, 28, Elk Grove

Dickerson is a self-proclaimed fair nut and thought it would be fun to participate in a whole bunch of "wacky contests."

He's been watching the "Survivor" television series for the past eight seasons and is looking forward to being a survivor himself. The Chicago native has lived in California for about 16 months and went to the Amador County Fair last year. He also attended the fair's Valentine's dance fund-raiser.

He is playing for the Amador Fair Foundation because it's a great cause, he said.

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," he said of winning the competition. "I'm going to go out there and give it my all."

What's he looking forward to the most? "Just getting out there and doing something out of the ordinary - doing a bunch of crazy things."

Abram Hart, 31, Jackson

Hart recently lived in the Jackson homeless shelter after getting laid off from his job and losing his house. The Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency helped him get back on his feet, and this is why, he said, he's playing for the nonprofit.

"I had nothing," he said, and "they really did help a lot. They gave me a place to stay, gave me a deposit for my new place." Hart got his own place a few weeks ago.

The Amador native is a graduate of Amador High School. He served in the United States Navy from 1997 to 2000. He's looking forward to showing to himself and to the public that he can give back.

"Even though I have had challenges in my life, I've picked myself up and have changed spiritually, mentally," and many other ways, he said. "I'm going to go out to have fun, work my hardest to get there and win - it's a big thing to me," he said.

Dirk Hawley, 48, Pioneer

Hawley has lived in Amador full-time since 1994, but had been coming to the area with his family since the late 1970s. He is no stranger to the county fair. When he saw an article about the Survivor competition in the Ledger Dispatch, it piqued his interest. It sounded like fun, so he applied.

He chose the charity A-PAL Humane Society of Amador County because he likes animals and A-PAL is a great organization, he said.

What's he looking forward to the most? "Winning," he said.

Stevens Price, 50, Sutter Creek

He's the soda-jerk survivor. The owner of the Sutter Creek Ice Cream Emporium will give a free ice cream to fairgoers who find him during the fair and have him sign his Ledger Dispatch ad mentioning his soda-jerk status.

"It sounded like a lot of fun," Price said when asked why he applied to be a survivor. "I thought I could promote my store - I thought it could be another way to support the (Interfaith) Food Bank. I think it's a wonderful thing that we have a food bank not supported by the government, but by local churches," Price said.

The hardest part will be going on the Gravitron, he said. The best part? "Having fun and seeing people that I know. I have a competitive edge - I'm going to enjoy the competitiveness and being fun and silly."

Frank Thomas, 27, of Jackson, is playing for the Salvation Army; Patrick Scanlon, 44, also of Jackson, is playing for Boy Scout Troop 78.

The Amador County Fair Survivors' schedule is as follows:

Thursday, July 30

- Contestants will kick off the competition by walking in the Kids' Parade down Main Street in Plymouth; make their shelter (set up the tent); participate in the Diaper Derby - fastest time wins; climb the rock wall - fastest time wins; pan for gold - most gold recovered wins

Friday, July 31

- Contestants will clean stalls - most manure by weight; participate in the adult swine showmanship - audience acclaim; ride the mechanical bull - longest ride

Saturday, Aug. 1

- Contestants will participate in a corn-dog-eating contest - most corn dogs consumed in three minutes; ride the Gravitron - most consecutive rides; be a carnival Barker - most dollars earned

Sunday, Aug. 2

- Contestants will perform the Hukilau during Amador Idol - audience acclaim; participate in the mud splash at the Destruction Derby - audience acclaim; pick up trash one hour each day, most trash by weight; participate in a treasure hunt - most items found.

The winner to be announced Sunday night at the Destruction Derby after all points are totaled.

The Amador County Fairgrounds is located at 18621 Sherwood St. in Plymouth. For more information, visit www.amadorcountyfair.com, or call 245-6921.