Overview The Clay County Fair turns Spencer, Iowa into a nine-day September fair of livestock rings, a carnival midway and a grandstand that books national acts, and in 2024 its fairgoers set an all-time fair record by spending $3.3 million on food and carnival rides. That year the fair logged 10,059 competition entries, 458 commercial exhibitors, concessionaires and vendors, 246 free stage shows and 29 new fair foods. It runs on its own grounds at 800 West 18th Street, the Clay County Fair and Events Center, which covers more than 35 city blocks and includes a 3,400-seat Regional Events Center used year-round. On site The grounds are laid out by name: the Grandstand and Grandstand Stage, Centennial Plaza, the Midway, the Outdoor Arena, the Livestock Pavilion Show Ring, Grandpa's Barn, Tiny Town, the Big Slide, and the Commercial Exhibits, Varied Industries, Creative Living and Family Place buildings. In 2024 the Dairy Experience churned 65 gallons of homemade ice cream and gave away 8,000 free scoops. Individual days carry their own themes - Kids Day, Senior Day and Disability Awareness Day - and the fair runs disability assistance carts across the grounds. Audience Much of the crowd comes to compete. In 2024, 1,319 people entered open class and 790 4-H and FFA members showed at the fair, and 1,200 third and fourth graders came through on school field trips. Talent and Influencers The 2025 grandstand ran Home Free, Oliver Anthony, comedian Jeff Dunham and Roots and Boots, a 90s country bill with Sammy Kershaw, Collin Raye and Aaron Tippin, alongside bulls and broncos, dirt track racing, monster trucks and a truck and tractor pull. Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks and Kenny Rogers have all played the fair, and George W. Bush and Al Gore have both appeared there. Track record The fair opened in 1918 and drew 30,000 people that first year. Through 2024 it had been canceled only for the war years from 1942 to 1945 and in 2020. Attendance peaked at a record 328,000 in 2011, and 2024 counted 297,999 through the gates and 15,321 at the grandstand. Brand presence Sponsorships are sold by location or by day, from the Grandstand and Centennial Plaza down to Tiny Town, the staff T-shirts and the selfie spots, and the tiers are named for ribbons: Grand Champion, Purple, Blue, Red and White. Every level gets a banner at the two main entrances and a logo in the Official Souvenir Program and on the digital screens. Upper levels add booth space, press-release mentions and, at the top, a 30-second commercial on the grandstand big screen. Sponsors can also buy concert tickets from a corporate hold, discounted admission, carnival wristbands and Food Bucks. SMU was the 2025 fair's presenting sponsor.