New Foods and Tasty Traditions Arrive at the 2026 Clay County Fair
Spencer, Iowa — Consider this your official warning: Fair Brain symptoms may include uncontrollable cravings, an irresistible urge to try “just one more” Fair food, and a sudden inability to walk past a food stand without stopping. The 2026 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU, is ready to treat those symptoms with an all-new lineup of delicious creations September 12–20.
Among this year’s new offerings are six finalists competing for the coveted title of “The World’s Greatest County Fair Food” in the tenth annual contest, sponsored by Farmers Savings Bank.
The delicious showdown will take place Sunday, September 13, at 11:00 a.m. on the Farmers Savings Bank Stage inside the Creative Living Center. Local celebrity judges will sample each creation before crowning one vendor the ultimate champion. Fairgoers are invited to watch the competition, cheer on their favorite, and perhaps discover their next Fair food obsession.
2026 World’s Greatest County Fair Food Finalists
Brown Sugar Bacon Twizzles (Side Door Concessions, LLC) – Sweet meets smoky in this irresistible bacon treat. Iowa-made bacon is coated in brown sugar, twisted by hand, and smoked to candied perfection for a crispy, caramelized snack that’s hard to put down.
Chicken Cheesesteaks (Jersey Jo’s) – A lighter version of the Steak Cheesesteak with all the flavor. Thinly sliced, seasoned, and chopped chicken breasts that will make your mouth water with every bite!
Lily Fries (TnT Concessions) – Fries just got an upgrade! Crispy golden fries are piled high with shredded cheese, chopped chicken tenders, crispy bacon pieces, and your choice of sauce. Every bite is loaded with savory flavor.
Loaded Mac ‘N’ Cheese Bowl (Stu’s BBQ) – Comfort food gets a barbecue makeover. A bowl of creamy mac ‘n’ cheese is topped with your choice of slow-smoked pulled pork or chicken, finished with green onions and a drizzle of BBQ or buffalo sauce for the perfect combination of creamy, smoky, and bold flavors.
Peach Cobbler Donuts (Bask in the Donuts) – A fair favorite meets a classic dessert! Fresh donuts are topped with cinnamon sugar, sliced peaches, sweet caramel, buttery crumble, and a cloud of whipped cream, bringing all the flavors of peach cobbler into every delicious bite.
Puerto Rican Beef Empanada (La Borinqua) – Experience a taste of Puerto Rico with this handcrafted favorite. Made from scratch, a flaky, savory pastry is filled with a perfectly seasoned blend of spiced beef for a warm, flavorful bite that’s both comforting and authentic.
You Pick the People’s Choice
The judges aren’t the only ones who get a say. The People’s Choice Contest puts the decision in the hands of Fairgoers. From Saturday, September 12 through Wednesday, September 16, fairgoers can sample all six finalists and cast their vote online for their favorite. The People’s Choice winner will be announced Thursday, September 17, ahead of the lunch hour.
It’s the perfect excuse to make your way through all six finalists, discover a new favorite, and help decide which food earns bragging rights as the People’s Choice.
More New Foods to Try
The finalists aren’t the only new additions to the Fair food lineup. Fairgoers can also look forward to these new offerings, listed alphabetically by vendor:
- Bask in the Donuts – Worms In The Dirt Donuts; S’mores Donuts
- Campbell’s Concessions, Inc. – Peanut Butter & Jelly Corn Dogs; Cotton Candy Lemonade
- Cedar Farm Creations – Bacon Jam; Cinnamon Pickles; Watermelon Pickles
- Dirty Bubbles – Dirty Energy Drinks; Dirty Sodas
- Great River Maple – Maple Sugar; Maple Granola; Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup
- Kepps Foods – Riblic
- La Borinqua – Deep-Fried Beef Stuffed Potato Ball; Steak Plantain Sandwich
- Mami Churros & Creamery – Strawberry Dubai Chocolate Churro Sundae
- Side Door Concessions, LLC – Double Bacon Cheeseburger Ball
- Smith Concessions – Bed Rock Twist
- Stu’s BBQ – Nashville Hot Tenderloin
- Taulelle Concessions, LLC – Wandering Waffle Monte Cristo
- Unbakeable – Doh Brownie
Ten Years of Fair Food Glory
The 2026 World’s Greatest County Fair Food Contest marks its tenth year, making this year’s competition a chance to celebrate a decade of creative, crave-worthy Fair food. Since the contest began in 2016, past champions have included everything from SPAM Curds and a Barnyard Burger to Chicken Flautas, a Pigtail Sundae, and last year’s Dazzle Churro Sundae.
The People’s Choice Contest joined the celebration in 2018, giving Fairgoers their own opportunity to weigh in on the Fair’s most memorable food creations.
Past World’s Greatest County Fair Food Winners:
- 2025: The Dazzle Churro Sundae — Mami Churros & Creamery
- 2024: Schnitzel Strips — Taulelle Concessions, LLC.
- 2023: Chicken Flautas — Ormic Concessions
- 2022: Roasted Corn — Ormic Concessions
- 2021: Pigtail Sundae — Clay County Pork Producers Chop Shop
- 2019: Sirloin Tips — Bryan Concessions
- 2018: Barnyard Burger — The Spencer Jaycees
- 2017: Waffle Chix — Waffle Chix
- 2016: SPAM Curds — SPAM
Past People’s Choice Winners:
- 2025: Bison Cheesesteak Crunch — Fischer’s Sleepy Bison Grill, LLC
- 2024: Deep-Fried Chocolate Chip Cookie — McCreary’s Hospitality
- 2023: Deep-Fried Strawberry Shortcake — Smith’s Concessions
- 2022: Berkshire Bacon Balls on a Stick — Bacon Box
- 2021: Apple Pied Donuts — Bean Counter Concessions, LLC
- 2019: The Iowan Pizza — Eat It
- 2018: Tiny Tators — Eat It
Vendor names are included for reference and reflect the vendor names associated with each winning entry at the time of the contest.
Whether you’re looking for an old Fair favorite or ready to treat a new Fair Brain craving, there will be plenty to discover throughout the 2026 Clay County Fair. Fairgoers can find the complete food directory at www.claycountyfair.com, where they can search for foods by name and locate vendors throughout the Fairgrounds.
Don’t miss out on the delicious fun!
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.
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