Wet weather put a damper on this year’s Clay County Fair attendance — but one day set a new record.
The 2026 Clay County Fair in Spencer drew 284,405 fairgoers during its nine-day run, about 10% fewer than last year as cool temperatures and several rainy days challenged the fair.
Despite the weather, Tuesday, Sept. 15, set a new all-time Tuesday attendance record, with 35,345 people passing through the gates.
The fair’s Grandstand events drew 15,188 people. Martina McBride, comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias and the All-Star Monster Trucks were the three best-attended Grandstand shows. The Blue Ribbon Showdown races scheduled for Sept. 18 were canceled because of unfit track conditions following the wet weather.
Youth and agricultural programs continued to draw strong participation. The fair had 794 4-H and FFA exhibitors from 48 counties in Iowa and Minnesota. Another 1,164 third- and fourth-grade students from 15 regional school districts took part in AgCiting and SciCiting educational programs coordinated by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Clay County.
FFA Day brought 738 students and 75 adults to the fairgrounds, with students representing 48 schools from Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.
There were also 460 vendors and concessionaires representing businesses and organizations from 35 states, including 50 first-year vendors. The fair had 1,368 open-class exhibitors who submitted more than 10,600 entries.
Clay County Fair CEO Jason Brockshus says the continued participation despite the weather demonstrates the importance of the event to exhibitors, vendors, volunteers and fairgoers.
The fair has also documented a significant economic impact on the region. A study based on 2024 operations found the Clay County Fair generated an estimated $92 million economic impact, including nearly 300,000 visitors and approximately 96,000 out-of-town attendees. The study also estimated $41.7 million in direct spending related to the fair.
The 2027 Clay County Fair is scheduled for Sept. 11-19 in Spencer.
