Picture This: 2025 Clay County Fair Photography Themes Unveiled

June 3, 2025

Spencer, Iowa — Whether you’re capturing the beauty of a foggy morning or the high energy of game day, the 2025 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU, has a photography class for you. With eleven photography themes, photographers of all ages are invited to showcase their talents from September 6 to 14 in Spencer.

The 2025-themed divisions offer a wide range of creative opportunities.

This year’s lineup includes:

  • “Fog/Smoke” (Concepts Division), sponsored by Campbell, Higgins & Mummert, P.C. of Spencer
  • “Blood, Sweat & Tears” (Photojournalism Division), sponsored by the Spencer Reporter
  • “In the Cemetery” (Beautiful Iowa Division), sponsored by Clay Mutual Insurance Association
  • “Abandoned Buildings” (Objects Division), sponsored by Spencer Truck Line, Inc.
  • “Helping Our Land” (Conservation Division), sponsored by the Clay County Soil Conservation Service
  • “Light & Darkness” (Film Division), sponsored by F8 Creative
  • “Hands at Work” (Action Division), sponsored by Boyd & Sailer Dental Center of Spencer
  • “On the Farm” (Agriculture Division), sponsored by GWS Farms, Inc. of Sioux Rapids
  • “Sports: Put Me in Coach” (Sports Division), sponsored by the Jim Shriner Family of Spencer
  • “From the Front Porch” (Country Living Division), sponsored by Carl and Becky Simons of Webb
  • NEW for 2025: “Patriotic” (Patriotic Division), sponsored by The Veterans Affairs and the American Legion and Auxiliary of Spencer

Each themed division offers both adult and youth classes (for individuals under age 17), with enhanced monetary awards available to winners.

In addition to the themed categories, photographers may also enter images in color, black-and-white, and creative photography divisions. The creative class encourages participants to alter or enhance their photos to produce an abstract effect.

Exhibitors may submit up to 12 photographs in total, with one entry per class. All photos must be a minimum of 5×7 inches.

Open Class Photography is open to exhibitors from any county or state. All participants are encouraged to review the 2025 Exhibitor Handbook for complete rules and guidelines, available online at www.claycountyfair.com or in person at the Fair Administrative Office. Pre-registration is encouraged and can be completed online, by mail, or in person by Monday, August 4. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by Friday, August 15. Exhibitors may also register entries at the time of drop-off, which will take place at the Photography Center on Friday, August 29 (12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) and Saturday, August 30 (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.).

About the Clay County Fair & Events Center – Rooted in Tradition, the Clay County Fair and Events Center is a year-round facility that hosts more than 300 events annually, including its signature event, the Clay County Fair, powered by SMU. Known as “The World’s Greatest County Fair” since 1917, the 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. For more information, visit claycountyfair.com. 

 

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