Several records were set during this year’s Clay County Fair.
The Fair had a total attendance of 325-thousand 585 during the nine day run from September 10th through this past Sunday, which is up nearly 17.5-percent from last year.
Preliminary spending by fairgoers on food, beverage, specialty concessions, and carnival rides has already reached an all-time record of more than 2.8-million dollars, breaking the previous record set in 2021. Goldstar Amusements set single-day records for carnival ride revenue eight of the nine days of the Fair, including an all-time single day record this past Saturday.
Clay County Fair General Manager Jeremy Parsons says record spending by fairgoers this year and last year shows that crowds have been staying at the Fair longer since the COVID hiatus in 2020.
This year, 750 4-H and FFA exhibitors from 46 counties in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska participated in livestock and human sciences events at the fair, compared to 708 exhibitors and 42 counties last year. Exhibitors that participated in various open class livestock and non-livestock competitions were up eight-percent from last year.
Parsons says Grandstand ticket sales were perhaps the only disappointment this year. The Grandstand attracted 16-thousand 642 fairgoers to multiple stage performances and dirt events. Parsons says there will be several discussions leading up to the 2023 Clay County Fair on ways to improve the Grandstand lineup.
