An Awesome Day at The World’s Greatest County Fair - The Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa!
Who knew? Maple cotton candy is great! Side note: Biggest hat I’ve ever worn! 😁
Most folks know that state fairs are usually big, fun, over-the-top events. But did you know there is a fair in Northwest Iowa that rivals many state fairs? It’s called The Clay County Fair and is held each year in September in Spencer, Iowa. I had a fun time attending on Monday, September 8, with two family members. We had a blast! I grew up going to this fair nearly every year and I can attest it just gets better and better.
Link to the The Clay County Fair Website: ⬇️
More About the Fair
The Clay County Fair first started in 1918 and is the largest county fair in Iowa and has the largest agricultural exposition in North America. I can certainly attest to that last fact. It is BIG! I attended this fair numerous times as a kid and we loved climbing up in the new tractor and combine cabs and getting our photos taken in them. All the big farm equipment companies were there so you were covered, whether you were a red, blue, orange, or green equipment fan. 😉 Now it looks like there’s even more variety! There is also a large antique tractor display. Almost every agricultural company and organization was also represented at the fair in various booths and buildings scattered around the fair.
Antique Tractor/Farm Equipment Display ⬇️
In addition to agriculture equipment, products, and vendors there are 4-H and FFA and open classes of livestock to see. The day I was there I saw many horses in the horse barn, some poultry, and some hogs and sheep. I did not see many cattle that day. Each day holds livestock judging and shows of some kind. I remember my grandpa would always take us to the draft horse shows when we went with him. Those beautiful creatures were amazing to watch. There is even a barn called Grandpa’s Barn with farm animals for kids to (carefully) pet and learn about.
Fairs in Iowa, especially, were the proverbial precursors to conventions - places where you could both learn and celebrate agricultural life in all its various forms. So, if you can grow it or raise it, it’s likely featured at the fair. See some examples below.
Concerts and Entertainment
There’s so much variety of things to do and see at the fair! There are many concerts and performances scheduled nearly every hour of the fair. Big name entertainers play each evening in the grandstand, but free concerts and entertainers perform in updated venues in numerous places throughout the fair. In fact, one of my favorite musical groups, Simply Three, performed the day I attended. They came all the way from Phoenix (where I originally saw them) to perform. I got to see them twice in one day. I was thrilled! After each performance, they sold music and t-shirts and you could chat with them. I even got my photo taken with them. Do I sound like a groupie?!? 😉 It was a hoot, that’s for sure!
The Rides! (Midway)
The Clay County Fair also has a huge midway with rides and carnival games galore. I have been on many an amusement ride at that fair, although we were rarely allowed to play the carnival games. I do remember, though, a day about 12 or 13 years ago, though, when my extended family went to the fair and all the grandkids got huge stuffed animals from the carnival games, compliments of my sister. It was fun to see the kids proudly carrying their giant prizes around the fair. My daughter got a pink monkey almost bigger than she was. What a hoot! She grinned from ear to ear all day. 😁😁😁
There are lots of other things to see and do too! There are 4-H and FFA projects to view, lots of judged community arts, craft and food projects to see, plus vendors selling lots of items you may not see other places. Some vendors even offer product demonstrations, contests or give away free items like calendars, yardsticks, or free food samples just for stopping by. There are at least four huge buildings and hundreds of vendors to choose from.
4-H and FFA Projects
Open Judged Exhibits (of all kinds!). One of my favorite buildings. 😁
A Few of the Hundreds of Vendors ⬇️
Open Photography Contest (another favorite)!
A large miniature railroad display! ⬇️
Fair Food!
The Clay County Fair has many more food options than I even remember. There are lots of things on a stick so you can eat on the run and so much more. Look at some of the various options below!
My family and I happily tried new food items and enjoyed old favorites at the fair. One fair staple is the nutty bar, an ice cream bar rolled in nuts. It is sold as a fundraiser and can be found on nearly every corner of every road at the fair. Tom Thumb donuts and a bucket of chocolate chip cookies are other fair staples. But everyone has their own favorites. My relatives like the Godfather’s pizza and the soups and pies in Julie’s Diner. There is something for everybody to satisfy their appetite. This year I opted for a roast beef sundae from Julie’s Diner for lunch and a pork chop dinner from the Pork Producer’s Association for my evening meal. Well, plus a few snacks here and there. It was all delicious and fun!
My family and I really enjoyed our time at the fair. I always enjoy it just as much as the Iowa State Fair, which is listed as one of the best state fairs in the U.S. I’ll leave you with two parting photos of the 2025 fair… It was way more fun than this! ⬇️
