Treat Your Fair Brain: Culinary Arts Brings the Cure to the 2026 Clay County Fair
Spencer, Iowa – Whether your Fair Brain symptoms include baking blue-ribbon cinnamon rolls, perfecting a family pickle recipe, crafting homemade wine, or tending your own beehives, the Culinary Arts Departments at the 2026 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU, offer countless opportunities to showcase your talents. From Oven Products and Home Wine & Craft Beer Making to the newly expanded Canned Goods, Dried Foods, and Honey & Hive Products Department, exhibitors of all ages and experience levels are invited to share their skills and creativity during the Fair, September 12-20.
Canned Goods, Dried Foods, and Honey & Hive Products: Preserve the Cure for Fair Brain
If your Fair Brain symptoms include stocking pantry shelves, perfecting family recipes, or finding excuses to make just one more batch of jam, the Canned Goods, Dried Foods, and Honey & Hive Products Department may be the perfect prescription.
The Canned Goods Department features more than 20 divisions, giving exhibitors opportunities to compete with products ranging from pie fillings, fruits, and vegetables to jellies, jams, and preserves. Whether you’re preserving produce from your garden or carrying on a family tradition, there is a place for nearly every canning specialty.
The Dried Foods Division continues to offer exhibitors opportunities to showcase both traditional dried foods and the increasingly popular freeze-dried entries.
New for 2026, the Honey & Hive Products Department will make its debut with both adult and junior divisions. Open to beekeepers and honey enthusiasts alike, the department includes classes for jars of honey, frames of honey, and beeswax products. All honey and beeswax exhibits must be produced from the exhibitor’s own apiary and prepared by the exhibitor unless otherwise specified.
Junior divisions throughout the department are open to youth ages 17 and younger, providing younger exhibitors with opportunities to develop their skills and compete alongside other aspiring beekeepers.
Exhibitors are encouraged to review the 2026 Exhibitor Handbook for complete rules and guidelines. Handbooks are available online at Clay County Fair or may be picked up at the Fair Administrative Office.
Entries are open to exhibitors from any county or state. Online pre-registration closes August 3. Exhibitors are strongly encouraged to pre-register to help speed up the check-in process and assist departments in preparing for judging. Exhibitors may still enter exhibits in person during department check-in dates. Entries will be accepted at the Creative Living Building on Tuesday, September 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Judging begins Wednesday, September 9, at 9:00 a.m. and is open to the public. Exhibitors entering in person are encouraged to bring completed entry forms.
Home Wine & Craft Beer Making: A Toast to Fair Brain
If your Fair Brain symptoms include experimenting with new recipes, comparing tasting notes, or proudly sharing a homemade vintage with friends and family, the Home Wine & Craft Beer Making Department offers the perfect outlet for your creativity.
This department welcomes both experienced hobbyists and first-time makers. Exhibitors may enter any number of classes, with a maximum of three entries per class. All entries must have been bottled since the previous Clay County Fair.
The department includes two wine divisions, Wine, Grape-Based, and Wine Kit, as well as a Beer Division. Entries may be made completely from scratch or from kits, allowing participants of varying experience levels to compete.
Judging is conducted by professionals from breweries and wineries throughout the region, bringing valuable expertise to the evaluation process. While judging is not open to the public, exhibitors can take pride in having their creations evaluated by industry professionals.
Exhibitors are encouraged to review the 2026 Exhibitor Handbook for complete rules and guidelines. Handbooks are available online at Clay County Fair or may be picked up at the Fair Administrative Office.
Entries are open to exhibitors from any county or state. Online pre-registration closes August 3. Exhibitors are strongly encouraged to pre-register to help speed up the check-in process and assist departments in preparing for judging. Exhibitors may still enter exhibits in person during department check-in dates. Entries will be accepted at the Creative Living Building on Tuesday, September 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Exhibitors entering in person are encouraged to bring completed entry forms.
Oven Products: Baking Up the Cure for Fair Brain
If your Fair Brain symptoms include collecting recipes, volunteering to bring dessert, or staying up late perfecting your pie crust, the Oven Products Department may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Open to amateur bakers, the department features more than 30 divisions and contests celebrating a wide variety of baked goods and culinary creativity. Exhibitors can enter breads, pies, cookies, bars, cakes, cupcakes, and many other family favorites.
Among the department’s highlights are 14 sponsored divisions, including the popular $1,500 Cinnamon Roll Contest. Additional sponsored contests and specialty competitions are held throughout the Fair, giving exhibitors multiple opportunities to compete for prizes, recognition, and blue ribbons. Participants are encouraged to review the Food Contest Schedule in the 2026 Exhibitor Handbook for complete contest details, dates, and entry requirements.
For those who enjoy a little humor in the kitchen, the always-entertaining Ugliest Cake Contest returns, proving that baking success isn’t always measured by appearance alone.
Entries are open to exhibitors from any county or state. Online pre-registration closes August 3. Exhibitors are strongly encouraged to pre-register to help speed up the check-in process and assist departments in preparing for judging. Exhibitors may still enter exhibits in person during department check-in dates. Entries for Divisions 626-664 will be accepted on Friday, September 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Entries for Divisions 670-674 will be accepted on Thursday, September 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Exhibitors entering in person are encouraged to bring completed entry forms.
From homemade jams and honey to award-winning baked goods and handcrafted beverages, the Culinary Arts Departments continue to celebrate the creativity, craftsmanship, and traditions that make the Clay County Fair special. Whether you’re entering a longtime family favorite or trying something new for the first time, exhibitors are invited to share their talents and help bring these flavorful departments to life during the 2026 Clay County Fair, September 12-20.
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 200 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 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 www.claycountyfair.com.
-###-