Who We Are
Our Mission
The Clay County Fair is “The World’s Greatest County Fair” by presenting blue-ribbon competition, world-class entertainment and innovative exhibits in a safe family atmosphere, while also providing year-round facilities for entertainment and events.
OUR PURPOSE
We will …
Bring the community together
Provide a wide variety of activities
Create a safe, clean, family-friendly environment
Be relevant in all aspects of our organization
Teach about agriculture, both Fair-time and year-round
Maintain and upgrade our century-old facility
Keep the Fair as our focus, hosting the best possible fair that we can put on each year
Build profitable non-Fair events through the Events Center and Blue Ribbon Catering
Be innovative
Foster good relationships with other fairs & be recognized as a leader in the fair industry
Promote all of our activities so everyone will know that “there is something to do” at the Fair & Events Center.
Our Values
SERVICE We deliver outstanding service and great experiences to each other and our guests.
EXCELLENCE We strive to be the “The World’s Greatest” through hard work, resilience, and enthusiasm.
CONSISTENCY We do the right thing, the right way, at the right time, every time.
FAMILY We operate with integrity, loyalty, and a sense of caring for each other and our guests.
FUN We realize that while our work is important, it is not a matter of life or death.
2026 Clay County Fair By The Numbers
Youth Involvement
794 4-H and FFA exhibitors from 48 counties across Iowa and Minnesota participated in livestock and human sciences events at the Clay County Fair.
Approximately 1,164 third- and fourth-grade students from 15 regional schools experienced the Fair’s educational opportunities through the AgCiting and SciCiting field trip programs, coordinated by ISU Extension and Outreach – Clay County.
FFA Day welcomed 738 students and 75 adults from 48 schools across Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota for a day focused on agricultural education, leadership, and career opportunities at the Clay County Fair.
Exhibitor Participation
460 unique commercial exhibitors, concessionaires, and vendors from 35 states were part of this year's Fair, including 166 agriculture-specific exhibitors. This helped the Clay County Fair again hold its title as the largest farm machinery and ag equipment show at any fair in the United States.
1,368 exhibitors entered open-class livestock and non-livestock competitions, with a combined 10,619 total entries, highlighting the range of talent and dedication within the open-class divisions.
Attendance
Grandstand shows brought 15,188 attendees, with highlights including performances by Martina McBride, Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias, and All-Star Monster Trucks, which drew in some of the largest crowds during the Fair.
Total Fair attendance for 2026 reached 284,405.
| Daily Attendance | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 51,780 | 50,295 |
| Day 2 | 39,423 | 48,205 |
| Day 3 | 18,244 | 26,426 |
| Day 4 | 35,345 | 28,690 |
| Day 5 | 24,937 | 31,227 |
| Day 6 | 24,257 | 24,675 |
| Day 7 | 23,209 | 30,812 |
| Day 8 | 45,883 | 44,598 |
| Day 9 | 21,327 | 25,979 |
| Total | 284,405 | 310,907 |
Have a Question?
Need information about the Fair, events, tickets, vendors, or something else? We're happy to help! Send us a message through our general contact form, and a member of our team will get back to you.
Looking to book or rent a facility? For event bookings, facility rentals, or availability, please visit our Event Services & Facility Rentals page to contact our Event Services team.