SPENCER, Iowa — The Farm Gadget Show, now known as the Town and Country Innovation Department, has a name change and a new competition for the 2018 Clay County Fair, Sept. 8-16.
The Fair’s newest competitive department, which began in 2015, started from the back of every “Successful Farmer” magazine, specifically, the page headlined as “All Around the Farm.” After three successful years, the department has changed its name to incorporate more opportunities for people to exhibit their greatest creations.
“Exhibits don’t have to be something you have made from scratch,” said Superintendent Karen Schwaller. “It can be a simple improvement that will be used for something else on the farm or around the house.” Exhibits can be something as small as a hand held object or something that needs to be hauled to the fairgrounds on a trailer.
Another change that is being made to the Town and Country Innovation show is the addition of a fun and new class, “Bucket of Junk,” which focuses on being innovative and resourceful with a five gallon bucket of identifiable junk. “This should be a lot of fun with the exhibitor bringing their own junk from around the farm or house to life,” said Schwaller.
The Town and Country Innovation exhibits are judged on workmanship, usefulness, appearance, design and creativity.
There are no entry fees and exhibitors also do not need to be residents of Clay County. New exhibitors are also encouraged to enter their creations at the Fair. There is a division for everyone, youth and adults.
Check out the exhibitor handbook online at www.claycountyfair.com or pick one up at the Fair Administrative Offices to find the rules and guidelines to enter your work at the Fair. Pre-registration for all exhibits is encouraged and can be completed online, by mail, or in person by August 15. For those who choose not to pre-register, registration can also occur when entries are accepted at the Ag Marketplace on Friday, Sept. 7 from 4:00pm-6:00pm, unless an appointment has been made.
About The Clay County Fair & Events Center Rooted in Tradition, the Clay County Fair and Events Center is a year-round facility that annually hosts more than 300 events, including its signature event, the Clay County Fair. Known as “The World’s Greatest County Fair” since 1917, the Clay County Fair attracts more than 325,000 guests each September for nine-days of world-class entertainment, competition, food, fun, and the largest farm machinery show at any fair in the United States. Additional information can be found at claycountyfair.com.
— Clay County Fair
For more news from Iowa, click here.