GOUVERNEUR — The 4-H barn was not the only place Wednesday where furry creatures competed for awards at the Gouverneur & St. Lawrence County fair.

Bulldogs, cougars and wildcats paraded before the crowded grandstand as part of the high school bands parade.

These "animals" may have been only students in mascot costumes, but their competition was entirely real as they strove for the newest Carlton Peck Award, the Kelly Ann Award for the most spirited mascot. Like the other Carlton Peck Awards, the Kelly Ann gets its name from a member of the Peck family. Kelly Ann is Carlton Peck's daughter.

The cougar from Edwards-Knox Central School, the Viking from Thousand Islands Central School, the blue devil from Ogdensburg Free Academy, the golden knight from Lisbon Central School, the wildcat from Gouverneur Central School, the bulldog from Heuvelton Central School and the green rocket from Morristown Central School all competed for the new award.

"We saw the mascots marching, and we thought those kids deserve to be recognized," said Carlton E. Peck, Savannah, Ga., the founder of the fair's band awards. "Those costumes are hot."

Luckily for Cody L. Putney, 15, one of two mascots for Ogdensburg Free Academy, his costume was designed for comfort during warm-weather adventuring. The marching band played the theme to "Indiana Jones" as part of its medley, and Cody dressed accordingly in the signature hat and jacket. Cody is the son of Sherrie M. Narrigan and Donald L. Putney, both of Ogdensburg.

For Cody, Carlton Peck Awards are not as much about the competition as they are a good way to see other marching bands perform. "I don't think any of us mind if we lose because we know that we're all good bands," he said.

Nonetheless, OFA placed first in the Gold division for the Kelly Ann Award. Gouverneur and Heuvelton tied for second place. Edwards-Knox took the award for the Silver division. Schools participate as part of the Gold or Silver division according to the size of their marching bands.

Next year, each mascot will be given two minutes to perform a routine to be judged for the award.

The high school bands also were invited to march in Wednesday evening's firemen's parade.

Mr. Peck, a graduate of Gouverneur High School, established the band awards, the first of their kind in Northern New York, in 1964.

About 15 years after their inception, the awards attracted numerous marching bands from all over New York state — sometimes as many as 26 bands.

"Then school budgets began to cut out spending on music and art programs," Mr. Peck said. "If budgets are cut, then art programs are cut, and that's not fair."

Seven marching bands have participated for the past two years. Only one band, from Heuvelton Central School, has earned the distinction of participating all 44 years the awards were offered.

Mr. Peck was a member of the Gouverneur marching band in his youth.

"I started out as a trumpet player, but I got tired of marching in the back of the band," he said. He also played the E flat and B flat sousaphones at various times in his marching band career.

He wanted to become the drum major, but was discouraged because it was preferred that the role was filled by a female student as a majorette.

"I started out practicing with a broom in the house," Mr. Peck said.

He finally was accepted as drum major in his freshman year, and he never looked back.

"I couldn't ask more than to see what these kids do," Mr. Peck said. "Each year somebody raises the bar."

Jordan R. Woodside, the drum major for Lisbon Central School, was the unopposed winner of the drum major award. He also scored higher than any of the competitors for best majorette, which is a separate award.

"I just thought I wanted to do it, so I tried out and I made it," Jordan said of his reason for becoming a drum major. He has been a drum major for five years.

Although the marching bands compete for awards, the real benefit they get from the competition is coming together with students from other schools.

"You get to meet other bands," said Jerica E. Dowden, Morristown, of her favorite part of the competition. Jerica was part of the marching band from Morristown Central School.

Although failing health prevented Mr. Peck from attending the parade two years ago, the annual Carlton Peck awards show no sign of ending.

"The awards are going to continue on, no matter what," said Mr. Peck's son, Sean A. Peck, Savannah, Ga., who has taken on organizational duties of the awards.

The Gouverneur & St. Lawrence Fair continues today with Holstein shows and time trials for all-terrain vehicles.

Admission to the fair is free, and parking is available on the grounds for $3 per day. The fair runs through Sunday.