Wielding oversized scissors as guest dignitaries look on, veteran longtime Walworth County Fairgrounds employees Rita Jasurda (center left) and Dianne Kegley (center right) prepare to ceremonially cut the red-ribbon opening the 2024 Walworth County Fair at the fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn on Aug. 28. The 6-day fair, held Aug. 28-Sept. 2, celebrated its landmark 175th anniversary this year.
“Oh, No!” The animals made a mess in the barn! Can you help us clean up?” With a nickname like “Scoop,” wheelbarrow-toting three-year-old farm kid Ryder Siegler of Lyons expertly made quick work of the faux cow pie clean-up activity module in the child-oriented Discovery Barn at the Walworth County Fairgrounds on Aug. 28, opening day of the 2024 Walworth County Fair.
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From Jimmy Buffett to Bob Marley, from Harry Belafonte and calypso classics to jazz standards, the Milwaukee-based Caribbean Eclipse Steel Drum Band played a wide variety of musical styles as they performed Aug. 28 at the Peggy Park Stage during the 2024 Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn.
Walworth County Fair mascot “Farmer Wally Worth” greets opening day Walworth County Fair crowds as he rides on a parade float on the 99-acre Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn. According to creator Eileen Walsh Grzenia, a Walworth County Fair Board director, Farmer Wally Worth enjoys cultivating fun facts about agriculture and the Fairgrounds, frequently planting and nurturing fair smiles. A busy guy, Farmer Wally Worth loves being a part of the Fairgrounds family.
Eight-year-old Logan Roherty of Darien, a member of the Ridge Prairie 4-H Club, competes in the Junior Swine competition on Aug. 28 at the 175th Walworth County Fair. Seen here exhibiting his Berkshire hog, Roherty earned second place honors.
Illinois soul rocker musician Karen Shook was among the opening day headliners at the 2024 Walworth County Fair on Aug. 28, seen here performing at the Duesterbeck Brew Haus Music Hall at the fairgrounds in Elkhorn. Born on Chicago's south side, Shook's roots are planted in blues and soul and her performances range across a variety of genres from heart-opening original songs to hundreds of feel-good cover songs from Johnny Cash to Bob Marley and Dolly Parton to The Beatles.
One of the oldest and largest county fairs in Wisconsin, the Walworth County Fair draws large crowds to the 99-acre Walworth County Fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn, where fair attendees could choose from a wide variety of food options. Established in 1849, the Walworth County Fair celebrated its 175th anniversary during its 6-day Aug. 28-Sept. 2 run.
The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) provided a color guard for the Walworth County Fair’s Aug. 28 opening day ceremony at the fairgrounds in Elkhorn. The 6-day fair, held Aug. 28-Sept. 2, marked its 175th anniversary run. Pictured, from left, are WCSO Correctional Officer Corey Nevin, WCSO Deputy Blake Stewart, WCSO Correctional Officer Chris Barrigan, and WCSO Correctional Sgt. Rachel Beil.
Fourteen-year-old Natalie Yates of Darien, a member of the Sugar Creek 4-H Club, washes her Simmental cross-bred beef cattle on opening day of the Walworth County Fair on Aug. 28
Celebrating 50 years in business, and 50 years at the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn, Burlington-based concessions vendor John Squire, owner of Squire's Dog Haus, is seen here Aug. 28 with a fresh-out-of-the-fryer handmade corn dog.
Many hands make light work of early morning cow-washing chores at the Walworth County Fairground in Elkorn on opening day, Aug. 28. Pitching together, from left, are nine-year-old Will Kaver of Delavan, nine-year-old friend Leona Goes of Delavan, and Kaver’s cousin, nine-year-old Charlotte Choyce of Elkhorn. The youngsters are seen washing “Liberty,” a spring Holstein heifer calf from Kaver Farms in Walworth.
Kylie Hirschy (right) of Eagle in Waukesha County judges 10-year-old Raelynn Koteliszczak of Sharon and her Australian Shepherd, Daffodil “Daffi,” during Aug. 28 Pre-Novice B dog obedience competitions in the Activity Center at the 2024 Walworth County Fair. Koteliszczak is a member of the Ridge Prairie 4-H Club.
Katelyn Wagner, of Jackson in Washington County, judges cupcake entries on Aug. 28 at the 2024 Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn. The 175th Walworth County Fair drew more than 18,000 entries in a variety of competition categories ranging from quilts to cows and everthing in between. The cupcakes were judged by Wagner on multiple criteria including aroma, taste, texture and visual appeal.
Flag-waving patriotism was on display Aug. 28 at the 175th Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn as Rice’s Pro Rodeo got underway as the evening’s featured grandstand entertainment. Based in Medford and a member of the International Professional Rodeo Association, Rice’s is a full service professional bull riding and rodeo company, staging shows in six states.
Cassidy Schultz, 18, of Genoa City, holds her Wheaton American rooster, Bert, as she awaits judging at the 2024 Walworth County Fair on Aug. 28. A member of the Flamethrowers 4-H, Wheeler is a Class of 2024 graduate of Badger High School in Lake Geneva. Wheeler is attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, studying for a degree in veterinary science.
Among the opening day activities for youngsters at the 175th Walworth County Fair on Aug. 28 was an 11 a.m. storytime in the Barnyard Adventure area's Barnyard Bin, featuring 2024 Fairest of the Fair Josie Vance (left) and 2024 Fair Royalty Leslie Reinke (right).
