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. Download one from the link above or call or write the fair office for an application form

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 approximate space costs?
A.  Indoor booths cost from $225 to $675 for the
fair period depending on size and location.  Sizes are from eight to 24 feet wide with various depths.  Space is located in seven 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 a percentage of after-tax gross sales against a guarantee to the fair based on size of space.

Q.  What about other costs?
A.  Exhibitors and concessionaires pay for
extraordinary electrical installation and consumption, insurance and extra outside gate tickets.  Nine gate tickets are provided for each $175.00 of space charges, which must be picked up in the administration office and signed for before the fair’s opening day.  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.
Costs vary each year, check with the fair office for the latest prices.

Q.  Does the date I apply have any significance?
A.  We will begin processing applications by 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.