Clay County Fair Receives International Recognition

Spencer, IA - The Clay County Fair lived up to its billing as the “World’s Greatest County Fair” by receiving four awards from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) at the 121st Annual IAFE Convention held last week in Las Vegas.

“Receiving these awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication that our Board, staff, superintendents and volunteers show each September,” said CCF Secretary/Manager Jeremy Parsons.  “We are truly honored to receive this international recognition.”

The IAFE awards program allows member fairs to enter competitions based on competitive exhibits, agricultural education and communications.  The entries are evaluated and judged by teams of industry leaders.

For the awards program, the more than 3,000 member fairs of the IAFE are split into five categories based on attendance.  The Clay County Fair competes in Division 3, which is limited to fairs across the globe with an attendance of 250,000-500,000.

The Clay County Fair claimed the following awards:

• First Place, “General Display Photo,” Competitive Exhibits Awards sponsored by North American Midway Entertainment.  The photo, taken by fair photographer Judy Hemphill, featured the Fair’s antique tractor display.

• Second Place, “Overall Agricultural Program for Non-Ag Fairgoing Public,” Agriculture Awards sponsored by John Deere.  The Fair’s entry, which included Grandpa’s Barn, finished behind the program at the Georgia National Fair.

• Second Place, “Agricultural Photo Series,” Agriculture Awards sponsored by John Deere.  The series of photos, taken by fair photographer Judy Hemphill featuring a youth exhibitor showing baby doll sheep, finished behind an entry from the Greater Jacksonville (FL) Agricultural Fair.

• Third Place, “Fair/Sponsor Exhibit Program,” Agriculture Awards sponsored by John Deere.  The Fair’s entry of the milking cow sponsored by MaxYield in Grandpa’s Barn finished behind entries from the Nebraska State Fair and Kansas State Fair.

The 2012 Clay County Fair September 8-16 with world class grandstand entertainment, 7 stages of free entertainment, GoldStar Amusements on the Midway, over 650 commercial exhibits, thousands of competitive displays including livestock, creative culinary, creative activities and agriculture! For more information visit www.claycountyfair.com or call 712-262-4740. Become a fan on facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/WorldsGreatestCountyFair.

###

Secretary/Manager Jeremy Parsons is available for interviews regarding the IAFE awards.  Contact him by calling (712) 262-4740, ext. 11.