Lake Geneva Regional News Reporter Eric A. Johnson, an award-winning veteran 36-year journalist, earned four awards in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation's 2024 Better Newspaper Contest. The awards - first place Best Photo Essay, first place Best Business Coverage, third place Best General News Photo, and third place Best Feature Story-Profile - were presented at the WNAF awards banquet at The Madison Councourse Hotel and Governor's Club in downtown Madison on March 7. Over the course of his career, Johnson has earned 44 reporting, photography and community service awards from a variety of organizations, including the National Newspaper Association and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association=.
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Newspaper industry professionals from across the state gathered in The Governor's Ballroom at The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club on Friday, March 7 for the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation Better Newspaper Contest awards banquet. Lake Geneva Regional News reporter Eric A. Johnson received four awards - First Place Best Photo Essay, First Place Best Business Coverage, Third Place Best General News Photo and Third Place Best Feature Story-Profile.
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Lake Geneva Regional News West End Reporter Eric A. Johnson received third place Best General News Photo honors on March 7 in the Wisconsin Newspaper Assocation Foundation's 2024 Better Newspaper Contest for his Sept. 20, 2023 photo of four-year-old Williams Bay resident Ava Sarnowski riding the merry-go-round at the Walworth County Fair. The photo was also part of Johnson's WNAF Better Newspaper Contest first place Best Photo Essay entry. Said the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association judge of Johnson's photo, "This is framed very nicely. Nothing distracts from the little girl and the great time she seems to be having. It all works to tell the story."
Stars, Stripes & Fair Delights: Opening Day of 2024 Walworth County Fair
"Aye, Calypso, the places you've been to, the things that you've shown us, the stories you tell..."
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.
"One dollar bid, now two, now two, will ya give me two?"
“One dollar bid, now two, now two, will ya give me two?” In his trademark rhythmic auction chant, veteran auctioneer Gary Finley, of Walworth, presides over fundraising basket and pie auctions at the Aug. 28 Faiirest of the Fair Finals at the 2024 Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn.
'Racing Stripes'
“Z” is for zebra, the ride of choice for three-year-old Emersyn Rabe of Walworth, as she enjoys North American Midway Entertainment’s twirling midway merry-go-round on Aug. 28 at opening day of the 2024 Walworth County Fair.
'Roll out the barrel..."
Chicago musician Jakob Stutz entertains on the accordion as part of The Phenix Band's opening day Oktoberfest-styled German music concert on the Walworth County Fairgrounds' Peggy's Park Stage.
A critical eye
DeForest resident Judy Herlacher closely examines an entry’s visual appeal as she judges bundt cakes in Aug. 28 opening day food competitions at the 2024 Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn. The bundt cakes were judged on multiple criteria including aroma, taste, texture and visual appeal.
All ears
Attending the Walworth County Fair is a longtime tradition for friends Janet Mitchell (left) of Franklin, and Marilyn Allen (right) of Elkhorn, seen here Aug. 28 enjoying ears of roast sweet corn. Mitchell and Allen have been friends since high school as Class of 1965 alumni of Greendale High School.
Bronco busting
Rice’s Pro Rodeo, sponsored by Jack Leiser Painting, was the featured grandstand entertainment act at the Aug. 28 opening day of the 2024 Walworth County Fair at the fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn, providing thrills and chills for spectators, including the bareback riding action seen here. 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.
Corn crib
Two-year-old Daxton Walsh, of Elkhorn, made a fun and creative rainfall of dried corn kernels through his fingers on Aug. 28 as he played in the sandbox-styled “Corn Crib” in the Barnyard Adventure Tent at the 2024 Walworth County Fair.
Dark skies, bright lights
The bright lights of North American Midway Entertainment’s carnival midway colorfully illuminate the Walworth County Fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn on Wednesday, Aug. 28, opening day of the 2024 Walworth County Fair. Marking its 175th year during its 6-day Aug. 28-Sept. 2 run, the Walworth County Fair is one of the oldest and largest county fairs in Wisconsin. Farmland, Ind.-based North American Midway Entertainment is the world’s largest traveling amusement company, serving more than 15 million fairgoers in 20 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provincesi, including 13 of the top 50 fairs in North America.
Fairest of the Fair
At the Fairest of the Fair Finals at the Walworth County Fairgrounds on Aug. 28, 2024, Elkhorn resident Kloie Potts (center) was named the Walworth County Fair's incoming 2025 Fairest of the Fair. Potts, a junior at UW-Stout majoring in family and consumer sciences education, will succeed sitting 2024 Fairest of the Fair Josie Vance (left), of Elkhorn. Potts will be the 59th Walworth County Fairest of the Fair. Retaining her role as Walworth County Fair Royalty for another year will be Elkhorn resident Leslie Reinke (right).
Junior Swine competition - 3rd Place
Eleven-year-old Sally Polyock, of Zenda in the Town of Linn, competes in the Junior Swine competition on Aug. 28 at the Walworth County Fair, exhibiting her Berkshire hog. Earning third place honors in the competition, Polyock is a member of the Walworth-based Big Foot Pioneers 4-H Club.
People watching
During a lull in business serving up lemonade and corn dogs at his Sharonne’s Concessions mobile food stand on Aug. 28, 12-year proprietor Phillip Laws, of Belvidere, Ill., enjoys a quiet moment people-watching on opening day of the 2024 Walworth County Fair.
Rising star
Independent country music recording artist Lara Bell, of McHenry, Ill., entertained Aug. 28 in the Duesterbeck’s Brew Haus Music Hall on the Walworth County Fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn, one of many entertainers that headlined the 175th Walworth County Fair during its 6-day Aug. 28-Sept. 2 run.
Service with a smile
It was service with a smile on Aug. 28 at the 175th Walworth County Fair as Elkhorn resident Joe Koloski served up homemade cream puffs at the St. Patrick Catholic Church Knights of Columbus Council 3464 fundraising cream puff and eclair stand at the fairgrounds.
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Farmer Nick
Farm-themed fun for the whole family was led by Farmer Nick in the Barnyard Adventure area at the Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn, featuring Nick's Kids Show and the new Barnyard Adventure Show.
Junior Swine competition - 2nd Place
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.
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Workin' at the cow wash
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
Many hands make light work
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.
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How sweet it is
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.
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Dog obedience competitions
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.
Karen Shook entertains at Duesterbeck Brew Haus Music Hall
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.
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"Farmer Wally Worth"
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.
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Something to crow about
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.
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Opening day crowd
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.
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Ribbon-cutting ceremony
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.
Stars and stripes
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.
Cock-a-doodle-doo
The 175th Walworth County Fair at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn featured more than 18,000 exhibit entries during its 6-day Aug. 28-Sept. 2 run. Entries in fair competitions ran the gamut from quilts to cows, including this crowing rooster displayed in the fairgrounds' poultry barn. The rooster was exhibited by Nolan Edwards of the Sugar Creek 4-H Club.
Barnyard Bin storytime
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).
Farm tractors on display at 2024 Walworth County Fair
With deep agricultural roots dating back 175 years, the Walworth County Agricultural Society's Walworth County Fair in county seat Elkhorn features a variety of agricultural displays, including a tractor show featuring a variety of vintage farm tractors. Pictured here, from left, are a 1953 International Harvester Farmall H owned and restored by Ben Reed of the Big Foot Pioneers 4-H Club, and a 1949 Minneapolis-Moline Zau, owned and restored by Wayne Edwards of Elkhorn.
1947 Massey-Harris 30 tractor
With deep agricultural roots dating back 175 years, the Walworth County Agricultural Society's Walworth County Fair in county seat Elkhorn features a variety of agricultural displays, including a tractor show featuring this vintage 1947 Massey-Harris 30 farm tractor.
