At Elkhorn's Walworth County Fair, there's no place like home

Rides, food vendors, games and more are part of the carnival at the Walworth County Fair.

Agriculture is part of the main mission behind the Walworth County Fair, according to Larry Gaffey, general manager of the fairgrounds.

With the demolition derbies on the final day of the Walworth County Fair, the six-day event is sure to end with a bang — lots of them.

You never know what you’ll find at the Walworth County Fair. This was taken at last year’s fair.

This year at the Walworth County Fair, the PI Motorsports Pro Tractor & Truck Pull is Wednesday, Aug. 31, at 7 p.m.

The dazzling lights on the rides at the Walworth County Fair can make for some abstract designs at night.

“The amount of talent and hard work that our kids have in the area are a great testimony to our parents, mentors and teachers in Walworth County,” said Larry Gaffey. Here’s a scene from last year’s horse show.

“To me, ‘there’s no place like home’ means seeing old neighbors, seeing old friends and making new ones,” said Larry Gaffey.

In the 1939 film “Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy utters one of the most famous movie quotes in history: “There’s no place like home.”

At the 174th Walworth County Fair, that line provides the guiding theme for a cornucopia of activities, including a carnival; concerts that include a legendary classic rock band; a rodeo and so much more.

The fair is Wednesday-Monday, Aug. 30-Sept. 4, at the Walworth County Fairgrounds, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn.

Another more common phrase to describe it? Something for everyone.

In the following Q&A, the Resorter asked Larry Gaffey, general manager of the fairgrounds, about what’s new at this year’s fair and about what he anticipates most at the six-day event.

After the Q&A is a list of recommended activities to check out at the fair. But to get the big picture on what is offered at the fair — seriously, there is a lot of stuff there — go to walworthcountyfairgrounds.com.

Fair admission is $45 for adults to attend all six days, or $10 per day. For juniors, cost is $15 all six days, $5 per day. Some of the other fair activities charge an additional admission fee.

Note: The following Q&A has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Resorter: What’s new at the Walworth County Fair this year?

Larry Gaffey: There are a lot of new things to do and see at the fair, including a fabulous wild bird show. The “Wizard of Oz” characters will be roaming the grounds. There will be a full production rodeo on Wednesday that includes roping, bronc riding and more. We are proud to introduce some exciting new activities to ensure inclusivity and boost participation. For the first time, we’re hosting a sensory-friendly period for kids with sensitivities to loud noises and flashing lights. Thanks to the generous sponsorship from Tanis Construction, a special partnership with North American Midway will provide a dedicated period on Friday, Sept. 1, during the fair when carnival’s loud music and flashing lights will be turned off. This allows pre-registered youth with neurodiversity to enjoy the rides in a comfortable environment. Admission to the fair and carnival rides will be free for the child and their chosen caregiver. To learn more about this program, please visit our website.

Resorter: Which of these new aspects of the fair has you the most excited?

Larry Gaffey: The sensory-friendly period on Friday.

Resorter: The Walworth County Fair means different things to different people. What does it mean to you?

Larry Gaffey: Our mission is to provide ag education opportunities for area youth. Yes, we provide entertainment and amusement, but the fair to me is about kids learning to be productive citizens.

Resorter: Why is this year’s fair theme “there’s no place like home?”

Larry Gaffey: The Walworth County Fair feels like home to many of our volunteers and exhibitors. It’s something they look forward to every year. For many, it’s the most important thing they do all year. To me, “there’s no place like home” means seeing old neighbors, seeing old friends and making new ones. It means the fair showcases the very best of Walworth County, our home.

Resorter: Among the live music lineup this year, you have Styx. Were you surprised to land them for the fair?

Larry Gaffey: Yes! We have been trying to get Styx here for years and it finally worked out with their schedule and ours.

Resorter: It seems as though the number of fair contests is growing. Do you have a favorite contest?

Larry Gaffey: I have a top two, in no particular order. The Pinewood Derby Showdown and the Birdhouse Build Off. The reason these are important to me is it creates an opportunity for kids to work with a mentor and learn how to create something. The prize money is terrific, too, thanks to our generous sponsors Tanis Construction and Advanced Auto in Delavan.

Resorter: If you could plan it, what would be your ideal day at the fair?

Larry Gaffey: To walk through every exhibit building, including the barns, and have an expert tour from the superintendent and a kid that is participating. The amount of talent and hard work that our kids have in the area are a great testimony to our parents, mentors and teachers in Walworth County. That might take a few days. I’d put away a few corn dogs! I might catch a grandstand show after that.

Below are more details on some of the events mentioned by Gaffey.

Rice’s Pro Rodeo — Aug. 30, 7 p.m., Grandstand. Bronc busting, barrel racing, bull riding and more at this new addition to the fair. Tickets: $10. Purchase online.

Pinewood Derby $5,000 Showdown — Sept. 2, check-in times from 8-11 a.m., races start at noon. Children, whether they are Boy or Girl Scouts or not, can participate in this chance to win the first-place prize of $1,500. Second-place is $750, third is $250. But other cash prizes are available. Open to children ages 5-17, with a mentor partner. Deadline to register has passed. See walworthcountyfairgrounds.com for more details.

Styx — Sept. 2, 7:30 p.m., Grandstand. Chicago’s own perennial rock stalwarts are one of the fair’s concert headliners. Tickets: $30-60. Purchase online. For more about live music at the fair, see this week’s Live Music listing.

Birdhouse Build Off — Sept. 3, 10 a.m. for judging, 1 p.m. for announcement of winners, North Hall. A total of $5,000 in prize money will go to three children ages 9-17 who entered this birdhouse building contest. First-place prize: $3,000. Second is $1,500, third $500. Deadline to register has passed. See walworthcountyfairgrounds.com for more details.

The Walworth County Fair schedule is lengthy. Here are some recommended events to check out if you go.

PI Motorsports Pro Tractor & Truck Pull — Aug. 31, 7 p.m., Grandstand. The main event on the second night of the fair. Tickets: $10. Purchase online at walworthcountyfairgrounds.com.

Meat Animal Sale — Sept. 1, 10 a.m. for sale, 3 p.m. for Meat Animal Sale of Champions, Wiswell Center. Where the meat animals shown by Walworth County children go to be sold. For those who can’t make the individual judgings and demonstrations, this is a great way to see what goes into the agricultural side of the fair.

Demolition Derby — Sept. 2, events at 12:30, 3 and 5:30 p.m., Grandstand. Where cars crash into each other and it’s fun to watch. Tickets: $10. Purchase online at walworthcountyfairgrounds.com.

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.

Jessica Markham reigns as the 2022 Walworth County Fairest of the Fair.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

Badger High School FFA volunteer Kylie Kundert of Lake Geneva readies cow hats in the Discovery Barn at the Walworth County Fair.

Vivian Patterson and mom Betsey Patterson of Elkhorn enjoy a ride on the midway merry-go-round.

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.

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.

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.

Pumpkins were on display in North Hall, waiting to be judged at the Walworth County Fair.

Dad Jamie Opper and daughter Ella, of Elkhorn, shear their crossbreed sheep for show at the Walworth County Fair.

Whitewater siblings Rosie and Bentley Hammerstad pose for a photo with their cross-bred ewes.

The carnival midway provides a festive, colorful contrast as the sun sets over the fairgrounds.

The colorful midway is aglow as the sun sets over the fairgrounds.

The noon antique and stock tractor pulls drew a large opening day crowd to the grandstand.

Commercial vendor Stuart Mayo gives a cookware demonstration in North Hall.

Wild West Sodas vendor Terry Vearrier of Odessa, Texas made his 17th journey to the Walworth County Fair for the 2022 fair.

A goat settles down in the hay for a rest during the Walworth County Fair.

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.

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