Spencer, IA (KICD) — You’ve heard the expression “the numbers don’t lie” – and according to the numbers released from the Clay County Fair office – this year’s fair did very well.
CEO Jeremy Parsons said a new all time record was set this year, preliminary fairgoer spending on food, beverage and carnival rides totaled $2,537,345 … beating the previous record set in 2017. GoldStar Amusements set single-day records eight of the nine days, including an all-time single day record on Saturday, September 18th.
The Sleep Number Grandstand attracted 18,585 people to the multiple SRG Concerts and dirt events. The top two attended concerts were Skillet on September 11th and Josh Turner on September 16th.
The overall fair attendance for 2021 was 277,389.
1,127 exhibitors participated in various open class livestock and non-livestock competitions. There were 456 commercial exhibitors, concessionaires and vendors on the fairgrounds. There were at least 150 ag-specific exhibitors – making the fair the largest farm machinery and ag equipment show at any fair in the country.
As far as youth involvement, there were 708 4-H and FFA exhibitors from 42 counties in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska that participated in livestock and human science events. And nearly 1,300 third and fourth graders from 16 regional schools visited the fair through AgCiting and SciCiting field trips.
Parsons added – both he and the fairboard were extremely pleased with the attendance and spending this year, despite the uncertainty before the fair.