LONGMONT, Colorado USA — “Sky is clear. Five, four, three, two, one.”  Launch.

Justin Lynn’s sleek black model rocket sliced a path into the hazy blue sky this morning as part of the 4-H Rocket Shootoff at the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

It climbed until it was a barely visible speck, then its parachute popped open and it spun to the ground.

“I just want it to look good,” said the 16-year-old. “I want to qualify for state. That would be awesome for my first time in show.”

Lynn, who started building rockets when he was 8, has launched the model he entered in today’s contest about 15 to 20 times just for fun.

“I built this one back in December,” Lynn said, adding that he spent about six hours on the model and spent much of the time perfecting the fins.

About 20 4-H students competed in the first 2008 Boulder County Fair event in the dusty north parking lot at the fairgrounds this morning.

The fair officially opens Friday at the fairgrounds, and the fair parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday in downtown Longmont.

Shelly Novak and Diana Tuder brought their children to watch the rocket launches and cheered for every competitor, no matter the fate of their rocket.

“We don’t care how high they go,” Novak said. “It is just about everybody out here doing their thing.”

Ken Plattner, who wore a tie-dyed shirt reading “Peace Love and Rockets,” judged each of the young rocket scientists on their rocket’s construction, range safety, flight stability and deployment.

Plattner often complimented the rocketeers, as well, as he reminded them to check to make sure the sky was clear of other flying objects and to make sure spotters were in place for landings.

Copyright © 2008, Longmont Times-Call.