SPENCER, Iowa — The Oven Products Department at the 2018 Clay County Fair will showcase fifteen new special contests, Sept. 8-16. Those new contests, along with the traditional classes in the Canned Goods and Dried Foods Department, will ensure that will be a contest for everyone.
This year, amateur “Best of Show” winners within the decorated cake and cupcakes divisions will receive a 20-piece beginning buttercream decorating set from Wilton. The runners-up in these divisions will receive color swirl three-color coupler decorating kits, also from Wilton. Along with these prizes, there will be 18 different sponsored items and cash prizes for all blue ribbon exhibitors to be eligible to win. As a special thank you for participating in the Oven Products Department, all exhibitors will receive an Ex-Grip jar opener.
The largest new special contest for the 2018 Fair is the Signe Kim Lauridsen-Jones’ Memorable Collections Contest, which will have cash prizes totaling $1,000. Exhibitors will create an interesting display using pieces that best represent their collection and then will write a short story of when, how, or why their collection was started.
Another large contest that is returning to the Fair is the $1,000 Cinnamon Roll Contest. The contest will be held on Monday, Sept. 10 and is sponsored by Farmer’s Savings Bank, Edward Jones, and Asher Motor Company.
In addition to these two contests, there are many more including IBBIA’s Tortilla Breakfast Casserole Contest and the King Arthur Flour’s Contests (Sept. 9); Clay County Cattlemen’s Spaghetti and Meatballs Contest and Del’s Garden Center’s Bruschetta Contest (Sept. 11); Mrs. Grimes’ Bean and Ham Soup Contest (Sept. 12); Janice Nostrom’s Apple Crumb Pie Contest (Sept. 13); NW Iowa Beekeeper’s Honey Contest and Jim Anderson’s Favorite Christmas Holiday Cookie Contest (Sept. 14); and Kitchen Craft’s Lasagna Soup Contest (Sept. 16).
Another popular department at the Clay County Fair is the Canned Goods and Dried Foods Department. This department will not see any changes for the upcoming Fair, but the superintendent, Gayle Simons, is very excited for the new entries.
“Canning is getting more popular so we are encouraging everyone to bring in their products,” said Simons. “Not only do the products taste good but they also make a beautiful display.” Simons also notes that all exhibitors are welcome to watch the judging process.
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 Creative Living Center during the appropriate entry times which are found in the exhibitor handbooks.
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.
— The Clay County Fair & Events Center
For more news from Iowa, click here.