EOH Explorer Series | Clay County Fair

Some places your family visits once, and others quietly become part of your family story.

For us, the Clay County Fair in Spencer is the second kind.

I remember going to the Clay County Fair every few years with my parents when I was growing up. Years later, when my own kids started showing cattle, we found our way back for a different reason.

Our county fair will always be home, but Clay County gave our kids another opportunity to get their animals into the show ring. It’s a little bigger, a little more competitive and has more animals, without being as overwhelming as something like the Iowa State Fair. We’ve been showing cattle here for somewhere around seven to ten years now, and somewhere along the way, it became part of our family’s fair season.

Fair Days Start Early

If you visit the Clay County Fair as a spectator, the gates open at 7 a.m.

Our fair day starts a little earlier.

We stay at a hotel in Milford, about 10 to 15 minutes away, and on show mornings we’re usually at the fairgrounds by 5 a.m. On non-show days, we might sleep in until 7:30.

The first job is always the cattle.

At night, our cattle stay in outdoor tie-outs, where they have more room to lie down, walk around, stretch their legs, and relax. In the morning, we bring them back into the barn, do chores, and get ready for whatever the day holds.

If we aren’t showing, breakfast usually comes next. If we are showing?

Snacks and ham sandwiches will have to do.

Anyone who has spent a show morning in a cattle barn probably understands.

What You’re Really Watching in the Show Ring

For visitors who aren’t involved in agriculture, I always recommend watching an animal show while you’re at the fair.

And here’s the important part: you don’t have to know anything about livestock to enjoy it.

You don’t have to understand why the judge places one animal over another. You don’t have to know the terminology. Find a seat in the stands, pick a kid or an animal to root for and watch.

Because what you’re seeing in that ring is only a few minutes of a much bigger story.

These kids have spent months working with their animals before and after school, practices, work, and everything else they have going on. They’ve fed them, washed them, trained them, and spent hours building trust with an animal much larger than they are.

You can tell when a kid has put in the hours, especially the ones that weren’t fun.

I have pictures of my kids lying right beside their cattle in the pen. When you can lie down next to a cow because you trust that animal and that animal trusts you, that relationship didn’t happen overnight.

As their mom, that’s what I’m thinking about when they’re in the ring.

I’m proud of the work they’ve put in. I’m hoping their animal behaves the way it’s supposed to. And I’m hoping they get their chance to shine.

A ribbon is wonderful.

But there’s a whole lot that happened before they ever walked through that gate.

The Stop My Girls Never Miss

Then there are the traditions that have absolutely nothing to do with cattle.

For our family, one of those is Jones Lunch Stand.

It’s the kind of old-fashioned fair food stand where you can sit down for breakfast, grab a sandwich or a piece of pie, and take a break from everything happening outside. Over the years, it has also found a special place in both of my daughters’ hearts.

Deb, the main waitress, knows my girls by name. More importantly, she remembers them from year to year.

Last year, when my daughter Jacey, won Grand Champion Female Mini Hereford, Deb gave her a hug and announced the news to everyone eating in the stand.

It was such a simple gesture, but those are the things kids remember.

So when we returned to the Clay County Fair this year, one of the first things Jacey wanted to know was:

“Do you think she’ll remember me?”

She did.

Unfortunately, this year’s visit was bittersweet. After decades at the Clay County Fair, Jones Lunch is retiring, making 2026 its final year at the fair.

I’m grateful my girls got one more visit and one more reminder that some of the best parts of fair life have very little to do with ribbons.

They’re about people making your kids feel like they belong.

When the Show Is Over

Depending on our show time, we may be finished around noon or it may stretch later into the day. Once the cattle are settled, the rest of the fair opens up.

And this is when Clay County is just plain fun.

We eat. We walk through the big farm machinery and campers. The kids hit the midway rides. There might be a nap in the cattle barn. There has definitely been homework done in the cattle barn.

This year, we even watched the Iowa–Iowa State football game from the barn.

That’s fair life. The barn becomes home base for a few days.

For food, Jones Lunch has always been high on our list, and The Branding Iron is another family favorite. Me? I’m finding a gyro somewhere along the way.

If your feet need a break, here’s one of my favorite Clay County Fair tips: catch a ride on the tractor-and-wagon shuttle provided by the Royal & Peterson Lions Club. It continuously loops around the fairgrounds with 11 stops and costs just $1 per ride.

We’ve ridden it, and it’s a fun way to see the fairgrounds while giving your feet a much-needed rest.

There are also free shows and entertainment throughout the day, grandstand concerts, and plenty of places to simply sit, eat and people-watch.

If I had $25 and nobody else in my family got a vote?

I’d buy myself a gyro and a beer, find somewhere to sit and people-watch.

There you have it. My perfect fair afternoon.

A Big Fair That Still Feels Personal

That’s what I think makes the Clay County Fair such a great stop for families, including those who may not consider themselves “fair people.”

It’s big enough that you can easily spend an entire day here. There are livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, huge farm machinery, food stands, midway rides, Grandpa’s Barn, free entertainment, and grandstand events.

But it still feels manageable.

I’ve always thought of it as a mini State Fair. You get much of the variety and excitement of a large fair, but it still has that local feeling I love.

People stop and visit.

They help one another.

Someone remembers your kid’s name from last year.

More Than a Day at the Fair

Our days usually end somewhere between 8 and 10 p.m. Then we head back to the hotel, sleep for a few hours, and get up to do it all over again.

It’s exhausting.

And I wouldn’t trade it.

For travelers, Iowa fairs are a fun way to spend a day. But I also think they’re one of the best places to understand rural Iowa.

So walk through the barns.

Watch a show, even if you don’t understand what’s happening.

Look at the kids and animals sleeping beside one another. Notice the families helping other families. Sit down at a food stand instead of taking everything to go. Ride the tractor around the grounds. Ask a question. Give yourself time to notice the people behind the experience.

That’s where you’ll find the part of fair culture that doesn’t fit neatly onto an event schedule.

My girls probably won’t remember every ride they rode or everything they ate at the Clay County Fair.

But I have a feeling they’ll remember walking into Jones Lunch and hearing someone call them by name.

And that’s exactly why we keep coming back.

Annie’s List – Know Before You Go

• Location: 800 W. 18th St., Spencer, Iowa.
• Give yourself a full day. This is a big county fair with livestock shows, exhibits, farm machinery, food, midway rides, free entertainment, grandstand events, and plenty for kids to explore.
• Admission: General admission is $12, or $9 when purchased in advance. Kids under 13 are free. The fair also offers special admission days, including free admission for veterans and first responders, and $9 admission on Senior Day.
• Parking is easy. Free parking is available in the Encore Lot north of the fairgrounds. Courtesy carts are available to help guests travel between the lot and EPS Gate G. Donations are accepted but not required.
• Ride the tractor-and-wagon shuttle. The Royal & Peterson Lions Club provides continuous on-ground shuttle service with 11 stops around the fairgrounds. Rides are $1 each, and it’s a fun way to see more of the fair while giving your feet a break.
• Watch an animal show, even if you know nothing about livestock. You don’t need to understand the classes or judging. Find a seat, pick a kid or animal to root for, and enjoy seeing months of work come together in the show ring.
• Bringing kids? Grandpa’s Barn, livestock exhibits and shows, midway rides, and other activities give families plenty to do. The Family Place also provides changing stations, a family/mother’s area, private breastfeeding areas, and a sensory room.
• Weekdays can be less busy. They’re a good option if you’d prefer smaller crowds, but check the schedule because midway hours vary by day.
• Don’t skip the ag side. Walk through the livestock barns and outdoor farm machinery and ag equipment displays. You don’t have to come from a farm to enjoy seeing this side of Iowa agriculture.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The fairgrounds are large, with a mix of grass, pavement, streets, and lots.
• Check the daily schedule before you go. Livestock shows, entertainment, concerts, and other programming change throughout the fair.
• Pets: Pets are not allowed on the fairgrounds except for service animals.
• Explorer Annie’s tip: Don’t try to see everything. Pick a few must-dos, leave room for fair food, and give yourself time to wander. Some of the best fair moments are the ones you didn’t plan.