In 62 Photos: Opening Day of the Walworth County Fair, Aug. 31, 2022
The 173rd annual Walworth County Fair kicked off at the fairgrounds in county seat Elkhorn on Thursday, Sept. 1. The fair, the largest in Wisconsin with some 138,000 attendees annually, runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, with a variety of food, entertainment. music, animals, exhibits, contests, auctions and carnival games, rides and amusements, among other attractions. For more information on events and activities, including grandstand headliners, visit walworthcountyfair.com.
Walworth County Fair: The colorful carnival midway lights up the night sky at the fairgrounds
North American Midway Entertainment’s colorful “Century Wheel” dominates the skyline of the Walworth County Fair carnival midway and lights up the night sky at the Elkhorn fairgrounds on opening day, Aug. 31. For more photos see pages A5 and A6.
Walworth County Fair: 2022 Fairest of the Fair Jessica Markham
Jessica Markham reigns as the 2022 Walworth County Fairest of the Fair.
Walworth County Fair: Afternoon crowd view on fairgrounds
Walworth County Fair: Fairgrounds afternoon crowd view
Walworth County Fair: Afternoon crowd view at fairgrounds
Walworth County Fair: Antiques judging draws a crowd
Walworth County Fair: Auctioneer Gary Finley presides over the Fairest of the Fair basket raffle
Walworth County Fair: Milwaukee area balloon artist Dan Dort plies his trade in balloon wiener dogs
Walworth County Fair: Banyard Adventure & Learning Coop area at the fairgrounds
Walworth County Fair: Belgian horse "Turbo" waits in the horse barn as his stall is readied
Walworth County Fair: Bumper cars on the fair's carnival midway
Walworth County Fair: Frieda and Dennis Evangelista of Long Grove, Ill. dance to the music at the Park Stage
Frieda and Dennis Evangelista of Long Grove, Ill. dance to the music at the Walworth County Fair’s Park Stage on opening day, Aug. 31.
Walworth County Fair: Dairy Barn animal exhibition
Walworth County Fair: Allen Davenport of Sharon clips his Holstein heifer for show
Supporting youth agriculture education is among the main missions of the Elkhorn-based Walworth County Fair. Here, Allen Davenport of Sharon clips his Holstein heifer for show in one of the fairgrounds cattle barns on opening day of the 2022 fair on Aug. 31.
Walworth County Fair: Ron Baughman of the Knights of Columbus serves up a homemade cream puff
It's service with a smile on the Aug. 31 opening day of the 173rd annual Walworth County Fair in county seat Elkhorn, as Ron Baughman of St. Patrick's Knights of Columbus Council 3464 serves up one of the 14,000 homemade cream puffs sold at the 2022 fair. The Knights' fundraising cream puff and eclair stand has been a popular fairgrounds mainstay for the past 46 years. Said Baughman, a six-year volunteer, of working the cream puff stand, "It's a fun food, so its fun doing."
Walworth County Fair: Sunset crowd view on the fairgrounds
Walworth County Fair: Night crowd on the fairgrounds
Walworth County Fair: Colorful food stands light up the night on the fairgrounds
Walworth County Fair: Walking stricks spread the "Good News" at the Fellowship of Christian Farmers booth
Walworth County Fair: The "Century Wheel" ferris wheel is a colorful sight as dusk settles over the fairgrounds
Walworth County Fair: Food humor at Emma's Cookie Kitchen stand on the fairgrounds
Walworth County Fair; Carol Steilein of Union Grove judges dips in the North Hall
The Walworth County Fair hosts a wide variety of judged competitions over the course of it's 6-day annual run. Here, Carol Steilein of Union Grove in Racine County judges dips Aug. 31 at the Open Foods judging in the North Hall at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn.
Walworth County Fair; Singer-entertainers David Allen Mehner of Spring Grove, Ill and John Ludy Puleo of East Troy bring their "Frank 2 FRANKIE" show to the Park Stage
Walworth County Fair: Jon Sherwood of Racine sells fudge in the Commercial Exhibits Hall
The 173rd annual Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn hosted a wide variety of vendors for fairgoers to browse and shop. Among those exhibiting at the Aug. 31-Sept. 5 fair in the Commercial Exhibits Barn was Racine-resident Jon Sherwood, co-owner of Sherwood's Fabulous Fudge with his wife, Hollyanne. Selling exclusively at fairs, festivals and other events for the past 30 years, Sherwood's offered 75 varieties of homemade fudge at the Walworth County Fair. Said Sherwood of selling at the Walworth County Fair, "I enjoy the people. It's a great time. It's the funnest job you could have. I really enjoy talking to the people, getting out and seeing the folks."
Walworth County Fair: Fun Slide afternoon view on the carnival midway
Walworth County Fair: Dusk view of Fun Slide on the carnival midway
Walworth County Fair: Doug and Brittany Kramer prepare sweet treats at the Red Barn Elephant Ears stand
Walworth County Fair: "Vertigo" giant spring tower on the carnival midway
Walworth County Fair: Six-year-old Rosie Hammerstad, of Elkhorn, shows off her cross-brew ewe
Youth agricultural education is among the primary missions of the Walworth County Fair. Here, six-year-old Rosie Hammerstad of Elkhorn shows off her cross-bred ewe at the fair.
Walworth County Fair: A goat eats hay in one of the many fairgrounds animal barns
Walworth County Fair: Children's entertainer Nick Dattilo of Kenosha leads a family chicken dance in the Kiddieland area
Walworth County Fair: Flying like Superman on the "Cliff Hanger" ride at the carnival midway
Walworth County Fair: Holstein cows on exhibition in the Dairy Barn
Walworth County Fair: Colorful flowers and vegetables on display in the Horticulture Barn
Walworth County Fair: Seven-year-old Penelope Stallings of Elkhorn is off to the Kiddieland stick horse races
Seven-year-old Penelope Stallings of Elkhorn is off to the Kiddieland stick horse races Aug. 31 on the opening day of the 173rd annual Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn.
Walworth County Fair: Badger High School FFA volunteer Kylie Kundert of Lake Geneva readies cow hats in the Discovery Barn
Badger High School FFA volunteer Kylie Kundert of Lake Geneva readies cow hats in the Discovery Barn at the Walworth County Fair.
Walworth County Fair: Vivian Patterson and mom Betsey Patterson of Elkhorn enjoy a ride on the midway merry-go-round
Vivian Patterson and mom Betsey Patterson of Elkhorn enjoy a ride on the midway merry-go-round.
Walworth County Fair: Bright lights draw in evening contestants for the midway carnival games
Walworth County Fair: Ruth Knetzger of Hubertus and Paul Melius of Jackson judge mixed grass hay
Agricultural judging has long been a mainstay in the rich history of the American county fair. Here, Ruth Knetzger of Hubertus and Paul Melius of Jackson judge mixed grass hay on the Aug. 31 opening day of the Walworth County Fair at the fairgrounds in Elkhorn.
Walworth County Fair: Registered Paint "Bob," 25, is making his last fair show appearance before retirement
Walworth County Fair: The Jackson Duo entertain in the WSLD Music Hall
Walworth County Fair: Yves Francois Rocambu Jazz entertains on the Park Stage
Walworth County Fair: Pharoah's Fury swinging gondola pirate ship ride on the carnival midway
Walworth County Fair: Plein Air artist Brad Geers of Milwaukee
Among the new attractions at the 2022 was the Aug. 31 opening day Plein Air at the Fair contest, which drew more than 20 participants, including plein air artist Brad Geers of Milwaukee, shown here creating an acrylic painting of the Ashard's Cotton Candy & Caramel Corn truck on the Walworth County Fairgrounds.
Walworth County Fair: Plein Air artist Hector Acuna of Cedarburg
Plein air artist Hector Acuna, of Cedarburg, was one of 18 plein air artists from across southeast Wisconsin participating in the Walworth County Fair’s inaugural judged Plein Air at the Fair outdoor paint-out competition at the Elkhorn fairgrounds. Plein Air at the Fair was an opportunity for artists to create artwork inspired by, and created solely at, the Walworth County Fair, with all created artwork required to embody the Plein Air spirit by capturing the light, mood and atmosphere of the moment.
Walworth County Fair: Colorful prize-winning flowers in the Horticulture Barn
Walworth County Fair: Pumpkins on display in North Hall, waiting to be judged
Pumpkins were on display in North Hall, waiting to be judged at the Walworth County Fair.
Walworth County Fair: Dad Jamie Opper and daughter Ella, of Elkhorn, shear their crossbreed sheep for show
Dad Jamie Opper and daughter Ella, of Elkhorn, shear their crossbreed sheep for show at the Walworth County Fair.
Walworth County Fair: Whitewater siblings Rosie and Bentley Hammerstad with their cross-brew ewes
Whitewater siblings Rosie and Bentley Hammerstad pose for a photo with their cross-bred ewes.
Walworth County Fair: High in the sky on the rotating and somersaulting "Speed" midway carnival ride
Walworth County Fair: The carnival midway provides a festive, colorful contrast as the sun sets over the fairgrounds
The carnival midway provides a festive, colorful contrast as the sun sets over the fairgrounds.
Walworth County Fair: The colorful midway is aglow as the sun sets over the fairgrounds
The colorful midway is aglow as the sun sets over the fairgrounds.
Walworth County Fair: The noon antique and stock tractor pulls drew a large opening day crowd to the grandstand
The noon antique and stock tractor pulls drew a large opening day crowd to the grandstand.
Walworth County Fair: Smoke fills the air as a vintage International Harvester Turbo pulls it's load - and into the competition lead
Walworth County Fair: Commercial vendor Stuart Mayo gives a cookware demonstration in North Hall
Commercial vendor Stuart Mayo gives a cookware demonstration in North Hall.
Walworth County Fair: Wild West Sodas vendor Terry Vearrier of Odessa, Texas made his 17th journey to the fair
Wild West Sodas vendor Terry Vearrier of Odessa, Texas made his 17th journey to the Walworth County Fair for the 2022 fair.
Walworth County Fair: A goat settles down in the hay for a rest
A goat settles down in the hay for a rest during the Walworth County Fair.
Walworth County Fair: The Mega Drop thrill ride on the carnival midway drops passengers 130 feet in two seconds
Walworth County Fair: Plein Air artist Deanna Bruenig of Oconomowoc paints a view of Holstein cows in the Dairy Barn
Walworth County Fair: Vintage 1947 Allis Chalmers "M" and McCormick Farmall "C" tractors on display
Walworth County Fair: Mementos of the fair's rich 173-year history on display in the Log Cabin on the fairgrounds
2022 Walworth County Fair "Fairest of the Fair" final competition and crowning ceremony
Among the Aug. 31 opening day highlights of the 173rd annual Walworth County Fair in Elkhorn was the 6 p.m. final competition judging and crowning of next year’s 2023 Fairest of the Fair by 2022 Fairest of the Fair Jessica Markham, right, of Elkhorn. Standing with Markham, from left, are Leslie Reinke, of Elkhorn; Evelyn Harkness, of Burlington, incoming 2023 Fairest of the Fair Lillienne Cauffman, of Elkhorn; and runner-up fair royalty Josie Vance, of Elkhorn.
Eric Johnson
Reporter
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