The Walworth County Fairgrounds is an almost 99 acres (400,639.1 m²) plot of land located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Elkhorn, Wisconsin

Elkhorn is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is southwest of Milwaukee and northwest of Chicago. The population was 7,305 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Walworth County...

, Walworth County, Wisconsin

Walworth County, Wisconsin

Walworth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2010, the population was 102,228. Its county seat is Elkhorn.-Geography:According to the U.S...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and owned by the Walworth County Agricultural Society.

History

The Walworth County Agricultural Society was founded April 28, 1842. The first annual fair and cattle show of which there is a record was held in the Village of East Troy

East Troy, Wisconsin

East Troy is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,564 at the 2000 census. The village is located southeast of the Town of East Troy. A small portion extends into the adjacent Town of Troy...

 on October 16, 1850. A total of 35 first premiums, 17 second premiums and 3 third premiums were awarded that year.

The first county fair held in Elkhorn was in 1851, in the block southwest of the Elkhorn City Park. In 1853 the fair site was moved to Delavan

Delavan, Wisconsin

Delavan is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,463 at the 2010 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Delavan.-Economy:Delavan is home to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, and Andes Candies.-History:...

, but returned to Elkhorn in 1854. In 1855, the first purchase of land, from Colonel Edward Elderkin, was made, consisting of 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) in the Village of Elkhorn. The cost was $100.00 per acre with 10% interest, a high price for the time. The city of Elkhorn donated $300.00 to fence the land, erect pens and sheds, and dig wells. Since 1855 the fair has remained on the same site.

Many fair visitors at that time came by train. At one time, there were 19 special trains that unloaded daily and left each evening after the races from the fairgrounds. They came from Libertyville

Libertyville, Illinois

Libertyville is an affluent northern suburb of Chicago in Lake County, Illinois, United States. It is located west of Lake Michigan on the Des Plaines River. The 2000 census population was 20,742; the 2005 estimate was 21,760...

, Rockford

Rockford, Illinois

Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...

, and Freeport

Freeport, Illinois

Freeport is a city in and the county seat of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 26,443 at the 2000 census. The mayor of Freeport is George W...

, Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

, and Walworth

Walworth, Wisconsin

Walworth is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,304 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Walworth.-Geography:Walworth is located at ....

, Janesville

Janesville, Wisconsin

Janesville is a city in southern Wisconsin, United States. It is the county seat of Rock County and the principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 62,998.-History:...

, Beloit

Beloit, Wisconsin

Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.-Claim to fame:...

, Madison

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....

, Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

 and Waukesha

Waukesha, Wisconsin

Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...

, Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

.

1933 was the beginning of night shows at the Walworth County Fair, such as the WLS Entertainers. That year also marked the first time that the fair opened on Sunday.

The Walworth County Fair is a "dry" fair. No alcoholic beverages may be served on the grounds. The fair is known for its horse races, and is one of the last county fairs to hold such races.

A newer tradition that is quickly gaining popularity is an event called Walworth County Fair Country Idol. The contest consists of three parts: auditions, semifinals, and finals. Auditions are usually held at the Walworth County Fairgrounds in early to mid June, with semi-finals and finals occurring near or during the annual fair. There is also a similar contest for "Juniors" held on the"Barnyard Adventure Stage" during the fair.

Some of the acts that have performed at the fair include Kenny Rogers

Kenny Rogers

Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...

, Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley

Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....

, Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney

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, The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...

, Styx

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Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....

, Insane Clown Posse

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, Lonestar

Lonestar

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, Travis Tritt

Travis Tritt

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, Randy Travis

Randy Travis

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, Bobby Vinton

Bobby Vinton

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, Terri Clark

Terri Clark

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, KC & the Sunshine Band, LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...

, Billy Ray Cyrus

Billy Ray Cyrus

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, Huey Lewis and the News

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, REO Speedwagon

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, Carrot Top

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, Avalon

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, Sawyer Brown

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, Alabama

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, The Statler Brothers, and Barbara Mandrell

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.

The articles of incorporation for the Walworth County Agricultural Society were signed on April 5, 1965 by the Secretary of State.

Today, the land owned by the association is approximately 99 acres (400,639.1 m²). The land and buildings are now valued in excess of $1 million. During its existence the fair has received the support of the community, which is shown by the gradual increase in its receipts.