The Clay County Fair contracts with exhibitors and concessionaires to fill the more than 650 commercial exhibit spaces on the fairgrounds during the annual nine-day fair starting the Saturday after Labor Day.

Fair management strives to present the most interesting exhibit and concession complex possible with emphasis on diversity, high quality and products or services that have the most appeal to persons attending the fair. The selection process is subjective and decisions by management on who is placed and who is not are final. Contract holders from the past year are generally given the opportunity to renew space.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about applying for space at the Clay County Fair.

Q. How do I apply?
A. Call or write the fair office for an application form, or download one from the link above. Forms will be mailed or be available at the office after the middle of January.

Q. Who may apply?
A. Any individual (18 years or older), organization, association, corporation, partnership or other entity may apply. Name of the person responsible for the application must be included on the form.

Q. What are the approximate space costs?
A. Indoor booths cost from $220 to $605 for the fair period depending on size and location. Sizes are from eight to 24 feet wide with various depths. Space is located in six exhibit buildings.

Outdoor space starts at $5.70 per foot of frontage and may be as high as $27.50 (in general, frontage is the width of the lot).

Food and beverage concessions are charged up to 18 percent of after-tax gross sales against a guarantee to the fair based on size of space.

Q. What about the costs?
A. Exhibitors and concessionaires pay for extraordinary electrical installation and consumption, insurance and extra outside gate tickets. Nine daily passes are provided for each $165.00 of space charges; additional tickets are your responsibility.

Q. Is insurance necessary?
A. Each entity doing business at the fair must carry general public liability insurance of no less than $1,000,000 combined single limits per occurrence on operations at the fair. Food concessionaires must also carry product liability insurance. Certification must be provided before contracts are executed. In most cases, coverage may be obtained through a group policy established for the fair.

Q. Does the date I apply have any significance?
A. We will begin processing applications around April 30; but do not fill space on a first come, first served basis. Applications are not held from year to year; if interested, you must reapply annually.

Q. What may I sell, display or offer as a service?
A. Only those items listed on your contract with the fair. On the application, be sure to list all products or services you wish to sell.

Q. Does everyone who applies receive a contract for space?
A. No, but we appreciate your interest. Sometime before the fair, we will notify everyone regarding the status of their application. Please do not call regarding the status of your application. We will contact you as soon as possible if you are accepted.

For more information or questions you may reach us by phone at 712-262-4740, by FAX is 712-262-4741, by email at clayfair@ncn.net.