2025 Clay County Fair: Economic Impact

October 3, 2025

Spencer, Iowa — Beyond entertainment, food, and competition, the 2025 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU, also delivered significant economic benefits for Clay County and the surrounding region. From fundraising by local nonprofits to increased spending activity on the grounds, this year’s Fair once again proved to be a powerful driver of community impact.

“Spending at the Fair doesn’t end when visitors leave the grounds; it continues to benefit the community after,” said Fair CEO Jason Brockshus. “From supporting local nonprofits to providing families with affordable opportunities for fun, these numbers highlight the lasting value the Fair brings to Clay County and beyond.”

Community Support Through Nonprofits

  • Nearly one-third (31.5%) of all food, beverage, and specialty concession spending at the Fair went directly to local nonprofit organizations.
  • These include producer groups, service clubs, youth organizations, and other community-based nonprofits that use the Fair as a fundraising opportunity.
  • The majority of these funds stay in Clay County, supporting scholarships, youth programs, charitable causes, and community projects.

Together, these partnerships ensure that the dollars spent at the Fair continue working in Clay County, supporting programs and services that directly benefit local residents.

Affordable Fun for Families

  • On average, Fairgoers spent $10.76 beyond their gate admission on food, beverages, carnival rides, and specialty concessions.
  • This average shows that visitors enjoyed a wide range of experiences at a reasonable cost, making the Fair an accessible tradition for families.

This balance of affordability and variety helps the Fair remain a community gathering place where lasting memories are made without breaking the family budget.

Growth on “Traditionally Slower Days”

  • Compared to 2024, spending on food, beverage, specialty concessions, and carnival saw increases on four days of Fair week:
    • Sunday, September 7: +5%
    • Monday, September 8: +4%
    • Tuesday, September 9: +4%
    • Wednesday, September 10: +23%
  • Over a six-year average, these same days have seen a 78% increase in guest spending activity, demonstrating that weekdays are steadily gaining strength and no longer lag as far behind weekends as they once did.

These steady gains show that the Fair continues to grow as a destination throughout all nine days, not just on traditional peak weekends.

As the 2025 Clay County Fair concludes, these numbers reinforce that the Fair is more than just an annual tradition. It is a source of community support, family value, and economic vitality that reaches well beyond the nine days each September.

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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