Enter blue ribbon produce at the 2022 Clay County Fair

Spencer, Iowa — Gardeners are encouraged to enter their blue ribbon best in the Fields and Gardens Department at the 2022 Clay County Fair powered by SMU, Sept. 10-18.

One of the Fair’s original competitive departments, Fields and Gardens will yet again have another great year of showing. “Even with the cool spring and all the challenges with the weather we are still hopeful for a good turn out on produce and exhibits for Fair,” stated superintendent Jerry Groenewold.

The Fields and Gardens Department will again feature the Largest Pumpkin Contest, where producers can enter the largest weighing pumpkin from their patch and see who will win the title. Along with this contest, there is also the Best Corn Contest where an exhibitor can bring in their best ten ears of corn to be judged.

Although vegetables are a large portion of the Fields and Gardens Department, there are fruit classes as well. The apple division has a best tray contest where the exhibitor with the best five apples can win the prize. Other fruit categories are plums, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and watermelons.

Entries are not limited to just fruits and vegetables. There are categories focused on people’s creative skills through the garden scarecrow and yard people contest. This contest is open for all ages and any groups that would like to participate. Other contests within the department not focused around produce are birdhouse gourds and decorative corn with husks.

Entries are open to anyone from any county or state. Check out the exhibitor handbook online at www.claycountyfair.com or pick one up at the Fair Administrative Offices to find the rules and guidelines to enter your work at the Fair. Pre-registration for all exhibits is encouraged and can be completed online, by mail, or in-person by August 22. For those who choose not to pre-register, registration can also occur when entries are accepted at the Fields and Gardens Building on Wednesday, Sept. 7 (5:00pm-8:00pm) and Thursday, Sept. 8 (9:00am-5:00pm) with judging scheduled for Friday, Sept. 9.

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 powered by SMU. Known as “The World’s Greatest County Fair” since 1917, the Clay County Fair attracts more than 300,000 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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