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Walworth County Fair makes for cherished memories

Photo

Patrick Larkin poses with one of the pigs he raised as a teenager in the Linn 4-H Club. Today, right, Larkin is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Hawaii, but he plans to return for the meat animal sale at this year’s Walworth County Fair.

ELKHORN — Patrick Larkin has an ulterior motive for attending the meat animal sale Friday at the Walworth County Fair — he loves bacon.

However, the Lake Geneva native isn’t coming all the way from his current deployment in Hawaii to enjoy his favorite slice of pork.

Larkin experienced the highs and lows of raising and selling animals for market during his years as a member of the Linn 4-H Club — the oldest in the state — and he wants to help another youngster reap the same financial benefits when he attends the 162nd rendition at the fairgrounds in Elkhorn with the idea of bidding on and buying a pig.

“Auction day at the fair is as big of a deal as judging day,” said Larkin, lieutenant commander of the Navy’s Destroyer Squadron 31, who also has served two stints in the Persian Gulf. “The kids and families put a lot of resources into raising an animal. Selling the animal is where we get the money back and maybe make a little bit, too.

“I was fortunate and had great support when selling my animals and made money each year on top of covering my expenses,” added Larkin, 34. “This is not so for all the kids. I’m at a point in my life where I have the resources to buy a whole pig, and it’s my turn to support the new generation as I received so much support back in the day.”

Larkin also will participate in Wednesday morning’s opening ceremonies and hopes to take his nephews to the tractor pull ... CONTINUED