WATERLOO -- The Mrzlak boys are at it again, along with nearly two dozen of their closest friends, at the AMVETS Noodle Nook on the National Cattle Congress grounds.

It can only mean one thing: It's Cattle Congress time.

"We get here at 4:30 in the morning -- me, my brother Mike and my brother Pat," said John Mrzlak, past AMVETS state commander.

"You mean Larry, Darryl and Darryl," joked Noodle Nook manager Margaret "Mugs" Langan, referring to the three inept brothers from one of comedian Bob Newhart's old television shows.

The Mrzlaks, Langan and other members of her crew, toughing it out in sweltering conditions, were preparing "oodles 'n' oodles of chicken 'n' noodles" this week for next weekend's National Cattle Congress Expo. Proceeds go to needy veterans being served at state and federal veterans facilities around the state.

The 61st annual family style all-you-care-to-eat AMVETS feast is a staple of the NCC exposition, which runs Thursday through Sunday this year. The theme is "Don't Miss the Best Deal Around."

"I think we're basically providing all the different types of ingredients that make for a great fair for the public to enjoy, and we just try to make improvements every year," NCC general manager Doug Miller said. "We have livestock, agricultural-based things; we have crafts, and we have arts and home culture; we've got a carnival; we've got food vendors; we've got exhibitors, and we're putting out a PRCA rodeo."

More than $250,000 in improvements have been made to the fairgrounds over the past year, including hard surfacing the main parking lot on the west end of the fairgrounds, which will be equipped with a shuttle service to transport fair-goers from their vehicles to the fairgrounds.

Major entertainment attractions include:

-- "American Idol" finalist Vonzell "Baby V" Solomon, an internationally known recording artist and actress who was second runner-up in the television series' fourth season. She will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday at McElroy Auditorium.

--A Demolition Derby / Tough Trucks event at 3 p.m. Saturday on the outdoor track on the west end of the fairgrounds, a Fantasy Truck Pullers show at noon Sunday and monster truck rides, starting at 10 a.m. daily.

--Marcan Tiger Preserve's Tigers of India, performing at various times daily at Corner Court southwest of McElroy on the fairgrounds.

--Mario Manzini Houdini Escapes & Magic Show, an escape artist featured on a number of television shows and specials. He will have two performances daily on the concourse west of Estel Hall.

--More than 120 different exhibitors of various goods and services will be at Estel Hall, coordinated by Iowa Show Productions.

--Country artist and trick roper Greg Sterling, performing twice daily in the Ag Building.

-- The Mapapa African Acrobats, a group of six Kenyan acrobats/dancers, with several performances each day at Corner Court.

-- A Funny Dummy show with ventriloquist Ken Karter, with several performances daily throughout the fair at the Ag Building and the Concourse Stage.

--The PRCA Rodeo at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at McElroy.

--A dairy cattle show at 9 a.m. Friday at McElroy and a beef show at 1 p.m. Sunday at Pullin-Simonsen Livestock Arena. The Waterloo Area Rabbit Breeders will be daily at the Paul Barger Building. The Hall of Breeds will be in Barn No. 5, and Blue Ribbon Row will be in Barn No. 6.

--Several bands will be performing throughout the fair at the Pepsi Pavilion, which also will host at "tailgate party" with a big screen television for the Iowa-Iowa State football game Saturday.

Gate admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 5-12, and children age 4 and younger are free. Advanced tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 5-12 and may be purchased through Wednesday at Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Waverly Hy-Vee stores and at Village Inn and Liberty Bank branches in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Parking is free.

Thursday is Senior Day, with $8 admission for people 60 and older. Friday is Kids Day, with $6 admission for ages 13-17 and $4 for ages 5 through 12.

For more information, call the Cattle Congress at (319) 234-7515.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com.