Although the Calaveras County Jumping Frog Contest has gained international attention, the majority of the competitors are still people from Calaveras County. Anyone who would like to enter goes to the registration table, fills out a form, and pays a modest entry fee. The fee includes the cost of renting a frog in case the entrant doesn’t already own one. Many people who live in the area go out and catch their frogs the night before, so they are “fresh” and ready to go on the day of the contest.
After entering the contest, the competitors must decide who will be the “jockey.” This is the person who places the frog on the launching pad and then encourages the frog to jump. The goals of the entrants and their “jockeys” are, first of all, to have fun; second, to win a prize; and third, to set a new world frog-jumping record.