Clay County Fair wins international recognition

December 6, 2019

“The World’s Greatest County Fair” lived up to its billing by winning multiple awards and recognitions at the 2019 International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) Convention held December 1-4 in San Antonio.

The Fair claimed 14 awards this year – the most in its history, including four first-place awards.  (The previous record was 12 awards in 2015 and 2018).

Taking top honors in the Agriculture Awards for “Newly established or evolving program which promotes agriculture to the fair-going public” was the 2019 Fair Ambassador program. The program, which involved Clay County 4-H and FFA students, was designed to reach and educate general fairgoers about agriculture and “Fair life” through social media posts. Ambassadors included Emma Ahrendsen, junior, Sioux Central; Dalayna Brugman, Sioux Central, junior; Erin Frederick, junior, Okoboji; Avarie Knaak, junior, Spencer; Alex Olson, senior, Sioux Central; Skyler Tessum, senior, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn; Nathan Pullen, senior, Spencer; and Noah Reiman, senior, Spencer.

The Fair also received first place in Agriculture Awards for “Agriculture Communications” highlighting the use of a Facebook group for communication with horse exhibitors instead of traditional communication channels.

In Agriculture Individual Photos, the Fair took top honors in two categories, Horticulture/Crops and Equine. The Horticulture/Crops photo was taken by Judy Hemphill. The winning photo for Equine was taken by Jim Steffens of Steffens Game Day Photography.

The IAFE awards program allows member fairs to enter competitions based on competitive exhibits, agricultural education and communications.  The entries are evaluated and judged by teams of industry leaders. For the awards program, the approximately 1,100 member fairs of the IAFE are split into five categories based on attendance.  The Clay County Fair competes in Division 3, which is limited to fairs across the globe with an attendance of 250,000-500,000.

In addition to the fourteen placings in IAFE award categories, Fair officials were active during the convention through the following recognitions and activities:

  • Dave Simington, current member of the Board of Directors and President from 2005-2017, was awarded the prestigious IAFE Heritage Award on December 2. The Heritage Award recognizes the achievements of outstanding volunteer fair management personnel.
  • Jeremy Parsons, CFE, CEO/Manager, was named second vice chair of the IAFE during the business session on December 4. In his role as second vice chair, Parsons will assist with executive responsibilities associated with the organization in preparation for his role as IAFE chair in 2022.
  • Andrea Wiesenmeyer, marketing and partnerships director, gave two presentations – one focused on the Fair’s new ag ambassador program and one focused on the Fair’s ag communications. She also is a member of the IAFE Advertising, Promotions & Public Relations and Sponsorship Committees.
  • Janet Schutter, commercial exhibits director, is a member of the IAFE Commercial Exhibits and Concessions Committee.
  • Parsons also participated on an international “critical conversation” panel with Washington State Fair CEO Kent Hojem and Royal Adelaide Show (Australia) CEO John Rothwell discussing Fair success metrics.

A complete list of Clay County Fair award placings is as follows:

AGRICULTURE AWARDS SPONSORED BY SHOWORKS

Category 2 – Technique/procedure/policy developed by Fair management to correct an issue or challenge related to an agricultural program

Clay County Fair entry – 2019 Swine Health Rules

  1. Royal National Show – Ekka (Queensland, Australia)
  2. York Fair (PA)
  3. Clay County Fair (IA)

Category 3 – Newly established or evolving program/exhibit at your fair which promotes agriculture to the fairgoing public

Clay County Fair entry – Ag Ambassadors

  1. Clay County Fair (IA)
  2. Royal National Show – Ekka (Queensland, Australia)
  3. Western Idaho Fair

Category 6 – Unique partnership for an exhibit/promotion/special event/competition showcased at the fair

Clay County Fair entry – ISU Extension Clay County’s “Bite by the Barn” Adult AgCiting program

  1. Missouri State Fair
  2. Royal National Show – Ekka (Queensland, Australia)
  3. Clay County Fair (IA)

Category 8 – Agriculture communications

Clay County Fair entry – Open Class Horse Department Facebook page

  1. Clay County Fair (IA)
  2. Alameda County Fair (CA)
  3. North Dakota State Fair

Category 9 – Agriculture programs video

Clay County Fair entry – Ag Ambassadors introduction video

  1. Royal National Show – Ekka (Queensland, Australia)
  2. Clay County Fair (IA)
  3. Georgia National Fair

Category 10b – Agriculture individual photo: horticulture/Crops

Clay County Fair entry – Family trying to lift giant pumpkin (photo by Judy Hemphill)

  1. Clay County Fair (IA)
  2. Bloomsburg Fair (PA)
  3. Missouri State Fair

Category 10c – Agriculture individual photo: equine

Clay County Fair entry – Chuck wagon races (photo by Jim Steffens)

  1. Clay County Fair (IA)
  2. Royal National Show – Ekka (Queensland, Australia)
  3. Florida State Fair

Category 10d – Agriculture individual photo: rodeo

Clay County Fair entry – Bull Riding Challenge (photo by Jim Steffens)

  1. Georgia National Fair
  2. Missouri State Fair
  3. Clay County Fair (IA)

Category 13 – New or unique animal competition (class or division)

Clay County Fair entry – Open Class Horse Department classes (largest and smallest horse)

  1. Pennsylvania Farm Show
  2. Royal National Show – Ekka (Queensland, Australia)
  3. Clay County Fair (IA)

COMPETITIVE EXHIBIT AWARDS SPONSORED BY NAME

Category 9b: General display at your fair – photo series

Clay County Fair entry – Balloon Masters (photos by Judy Hemphill)

  1. Royal National Show – Ekka (Queensland, Australia)
  2. Clay County Fair (IA)
  3. Missouri State Fair

IAFE HALL OF COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS SPONSORED BY K & K INSURANCE

Category 5 – Magazine ad

Clay County Fair entry – Okoboji Magazine concert line-up ad

  1. South Carolina State Fair
  2. Missouri State Fair
  3. Clay County Fair (IA)

Category 8 – Printed promotional material

Clay County Fair entry – Daily guides

  1. Royal National Show – Ekka (Queensland, Australia)
  2. Clay County Fair (IA)
  3. Sioux Empire Fair (SD)

Category 17 – Social media/mobile campaign

Clay County Fair entry – 2019 Instagram campaign

  1. Missouri State Fair
  2. Nebraska State Fair
  3. Clay County Fair (IA)

NON-FAIR FACILITY USAGE AWARDS SPONSORED BY SHOWORKS

Category 2 – Specific action/campaign used to market your facility

Our entry – Weekly front-page ad campaign in Spencer Daily Reporter

  1. North Dakota State Fair
  2. Clay County Fair (IA)
  3. Mississippi Valley Fair (IA)

About IAFE The IAFE is a voluntary, not-for-profit corporation that serves state, provincial, regional, and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and expositions. It currently represents more than 1,100 fairs around the world and more than 900 members from related fields.

About The Clay County Fair & Events Center Rooted in Tradition, the Clay County Fair and Events Center is a year-round facility that annually hosts more than 300 events, including its signature event, the Clay County Fair. Known as “The World’s Greatest County Fair” since 1917, the Clay County Fair attracts more than 325,000 guests each September for nine-days of world-class entertainment, competition, food, fun, and the largest farm machinery show at any fair in the United States. Additional information can be found at claycountyfair.com.

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