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Picture a blue ribbon at the 2022 Clay County Fair
Spencer, Iowa — Now is a perfect time to begin sorting through all of the photos you have taken and enter them in one of the many photography competitions at the 2022 Clay County Fair powered by SMU, September 10-18.
“We’re really excited to be back for the 2022 Fair,” said Dana Metcalf, superintendent of the Photography Department. “We’re excited to have eight new sponsored theme classes, including new for the 2022 Fair, ‘Batter Up’.”
Photographers may enter up to 12 photographs with one entry per class. Divisions include color photographs or black and white photographs of people, places, landscape, things, plants, or animals/insects world.
A separate division for creative photography allows photographers to use different techniques to alter the photograph, including computer manipulation, multi-images into one photo, camera filters and trick lenses. A separate class, other than above, is available for people who have altered an image other than the three categories.
Exhibitors entering sponsored divisions have the opportunity to win increased cash prizes. All divisions include a youth class for those under age 18 and an adult class.
As Metcalf mentioned, the Photography Department is excited to have eight new sponsored special theme classes, including “Batter Up,” a sports division sponsored by the Jim Shriner Family, which is new for the 2022 Fair.
Other sponsored divisions include “A Tree” (objects division sponsored by Spencer Truck Line); “Ripples” (water division sponsored by VW Docks of Spirit Lake); “Texture” (concepts division sponsored by Campbell, Higgins, and Mummert, P.C.); “Capturing Summer Fun” (photojournalism division sponsored by the Spencer Daily Reporter); “Barns” (Beautiful Iowa division sponsored by Clay Mutual Insurance); “Helping the Land” (conservation division sponsored by Clay County Soil Conservation Service); “Jumping” (action division sponsored by Fox, Boyd, Sailer, & Shiver Dental Center); and “All in a Day’s Work” (agriculture division sponsored by GWS Farms).
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 Photography Center on September 2 (Noon-7:00pm) and September 3 (9:00am-3:00pm).
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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Enter blue ribbon produce at the 2022 Clay County Fair
Purchase your tickets for the 2022 Fair Grandstand line-up
Admission details announced for 2022 Fair
Farm to Fork FUNdraiser
Seven girls to contend for title of 2022 Clay County Fair Queen
Spencer, Iowa – Seven young ladies will compete for the title of Clay County Fair Queen on Sunday, May 1 at the Clay County Regional Events Center.
Contestants include Rebekah Buettner of Webb, the daughter of Beau and Sara Buettner; Autumn Erdman of Spencer, daughter of Terry and Jolene Hansen and Bob Erdman; Lizzy Findling of Royal, the daughter of Jennifer Findling; Bri Holt of Spencer, the daughter of Jason and Laura Holt; Laci Seymour of Spencer, the daughter of Tifany and Jeremy Thiesen and Robert and Ronda Seymour; Kamdyn Van Gelder of Spencer, the daughter of Jay and Shantel Van Gelder; and Ellie Wallace of Spencer, the daughter of Brad and Ruth Wallace.
The contest will conclude with the pageant, including the self-expression portion of the contest and the crowning, at 7:00pm. The event is open to the public.
The Queen will represent the Fair at area parades, the Iowa State Fair during the queen contest, selected celebrations during the summer, and the Clay County Fair in September.
Candidates will be judged on personality, attitude and awareness, leadership and citizenship, contribution to the community, overall appearance, charm, poise and self-expression.
Each contestant will receive a Summer Statements watch and cosmetic bag with cosmetics from Avon; a tote bag from Weaver’s; a tumbler from Creative Stitches; a movie basket from Southpark Mall; and a single stem rose from Hy-Vee.
The Queen will also receive many valuable prizes, including $1,500 cash from Community State Bank; a Vera Bradley bag package from Hen House; a Boussivie designer watch from Avon; personal care sessions from Design Masters; a bracelet from Nelson Jewelry; $200 cash from Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative; an official Fair Queen photo from Studio 309; a $100 gift certificate from Elegance Bridal and Prom Boutique; a tanning package from Royal Tan; $50 cash for travel expenses from H&N Chevrolet-Buick; an one-year membership to the Spencer Family YMCA; $100 gift card from Clay County Farm Bureau; a teeth whitening tray from Van Hofwegen & Munter Family Dentistry; a one-hour session of interview coaching from Treva Graves; and a dozen roses from Hy-Vee.
The First Runner-up also receives many prizes including $1,000 cash from Community State Bank; a Vera Bradley bag package from Hen House; a Boussivie designer watch from Avon; a tanning package from Royal Tan; and half-dozen roses from Hy-Vee.
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Complete 2022 Fair Grandstand line-up announced
Spencer, Iowa — The Clay County Fair announces all nine nights of Grandstand events – including the six shows that are part of SRG Concert Series – for the 2022 Clay County Fair powered by SMU, September 10-18.
“We thought we would change things up a bit this year and announce the entire line-up at once,” said Fair Manager Jeremy Parsons. “This gives our enthusiastic fairgoers more time to plan their entire Fair visit, plus it gives us all something to look forward while we still ‘enjoy’ winter.”
Parsons continued that tickets for all of these events will go on sale throughout the upcoming weeks. “This is more of a ‘save the date’ type of announcement with more specifics to come in the weeks ahead,” he said.
Russell Dickerson with special guest Adam Sanders – Saturday, September 10, 7:30pm
Russell Dickerson is a multiplatinum Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. In 2017, his gold-certified full-length debut, Yours, bowed at #5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. The album yielded three consecutive #1 smashes, including the double-platinum “Yours,” the platinum “Blue Tacoma,” and “Every Little Thing.” Nominations followed at the Academy of Country Music Awards, CMT Music Awards, and iHeartRadio Music Awards. In 2020, he released his second full-length album, Southern Symphony, led by the singles “Love You Like I Used To,” “Home Sweet,” and “Never Gets Old.”
Named as “one of Music Row’s hottest young songwriters,” breakout country music artist Adam Sanders has earned his reputation as an artist to watch with the release of his newest album “What If I’m Right.” After writing hit songs for Dustin Lynch, Cole Swindell, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton, the highly sought-after songwriter is betting the odds on a career as an artist that has already earned him over 100 million streams, over 70,000 singles sold and landed him on Billboard’s Top 40 Country Albums chart.
CeCe Winans with special guest Riley Clemmons – Sunday, September 11, 7:30pm
The best-selling and most-awarded female gospel artist of all time, CeCe Winans has influenced a generation of gospel and secular vocalists over the course of her astonishing career. Her mantel today holds a staggering 12 GRAMMY Awards, 20 Dove Awards and 7 Stellar Awards. She’s sold in excess of 5 million albums in the U.S., topping the gospel charts repeatedly while crossing over with smashes like “Count on Me,” her duet with Whitney Houston from the multi-platinum Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, which sold 2 million copies and cracked the Top 10 on the pop, R&B, and adult contemporary charts.
One of contemporary Christian music’s newest stars, Riley Clemmons’ first single, “Broken Prayers,” took flight in 2017 and racked up 30 million-plus streams. In support of her 2018 self-titled debut album, she hit the road for the first time with Tauren Wells and grew into a powerhouse presence on stage. Her second album, Godsend, was released in 2020 with her fastest growing single to date, “Keep on Hoping,” which has quickly climbed the Billboard and radio airplay charts.
The Leroy Van Dyke Country Gold Tour featuring Leroy Van Dyke, Jimmy Fortune, T.G. Sheppard, T. Graham Brown, The Malpass Brothers and Mandy Barnett – Monday, September 12, 7:30pm
This stellar evening will feature renowned classic country music performers who have topped the charts. Enjoy them in person as Leroy, Jimmy, T.G., and T. Graham perform the celebrated Nashville sound that took their music around the world including hits like “Auctioneer,” “Walk on By,” “Elizabeth,” “My Only Love,” “I Loved ‘Em Every One,” “Strong Heart,” “Don’t Go to Strangers,” “Darlene,” and more. Joining will be public television favorites, the Malpass Brothers, and Mandy Barnett, the original star of the musical Always…Patsy Cline.
Lucas Oil ASCS and Tri-State Late Models – Tuesday, September 13, 7:00pm (Hot Laps)
The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series returns after a successful debut in 2021 and will be joined again by the Tri-State Late Models.
IMCA Blue Ribbon Showdown – Wednesday, September 14, 7:00pm (Hot Laps)
The 2022 racing season at the Clay County Fair Speedway winds down with an IMCA showdown that includes Hobby Stocks, Sports Mods, Modifieds, Stock Cars and Sports Compacts.
Vanilla Ice with special guest Ying Yang Twins – Thursday, September 15, 7:30pm
The iconic Robert Van Winkle, aka Vanilla Ice, exploded on the rap/pop music scene in 1990, selling 10 million albums in four months and topping the Billboard charts with the #1 single, “Ice Ice Baby,” and the #1 album. With worldwide album sales of more than 15 million, Vanilla Ice has won 2 MTV Awards, a People’s Choice Award, and was nominated for a GRAMMY. He has toured consistently throughout his career since 1990 performing all over the world, as well as appearing in movies, TV shows, and stage productions.
The Ying Yang Twins are an American hip hop duo consisting of Kaine (born Eric Jackson) and D-Roc (born Deongelo Holmes). The group debuted in 2000 and rose to mainstream popularity in 2003 collaborating with Britney Spears on her album In the Zone and with Lil Jon on “Get Low.” In 2004 and 2005, Ying Yang Twins became more popular with party singles “Salt Shaker”, “Wait (The Whisper Song)”, “Shake” and “Badd.”
Dwight Yoakam with special guest Runaway June – Friday, September 16, 7:30pm
Country superstar Dwight Yoakam has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and he is a 21-time nominated, multiple GRAMMY Award winner. He has 12 gold albums and 9 platinum or multi-platinum albums, with five of those albums topping Billboard’s Country Albums chart. Nearly 40 of his singles have charted on Billboard, with 14 peaking in the Top 10. In 2016, Yoakam released his bluegrass album Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars, which reflects the love for bluegrass music that he developed at an early age in Kentucky.
Proclaimed by Billboard as the “next hot trend in country music,” Runaway June is comprised of Naomi Cooke (lead vocals/guitar), Natalie Stovall (vocals/fiddle/guitar), and Jennifer Wayne (vocals/guitar). Their single “Buy My Own Drinks” peaked at #5 on the Mediabase Country Chart, the highest charting song by a female group since The Chicks in 2003. Their debut album Blue Roses (2019) received critical acclaim and was included on Rolling Stone’s best albums of the year lists.
Grand Funk Railroad and Blue Oyster Cult – Saturday, September 17, 7:30pm
Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, this top selling American rock group of the 70’s is “comin’ to your town to help you party it down.” Internationally acclaimed, Grand Funk Railroad’s widespread appeal is evident in its prestigious recording achievements. Over their career, Grand Funk has had 19 charted singles, eight Top 40 hits and two #1 singles (“We’re an American Band” and “Locomotion”). The group has now accumulated 13 gold and 10 platinum records with record sales in excess of 25 million copies sold worldwide.
Since its debut album in 1972, Blue Öyster Cult has occupied a unique place in rock history because it’s one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success. The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as Metallica, and BÖC was listed in VH1’s countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. BÖC’s canon includes three stone-cold classic songs: “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” “Godzilla,” and “Burnin’ for You.”
Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull – Sunday, September 18, 1:00pm and 5:30pm
For the third time, the Fair will conclude with the season championships of the Outlaw Truck & Tractor Pullers Association featuring two thunderous sessions of pulling action.
Tickets for all of these events will go on sale throughout the upcoming weeks. Keep checking the Fair’s website (www.claycountyfair.com) or follow the Fair’s social media channels for the most up-to-date information.
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 325,000 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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