After surviving the "no fair" year of 2020, the Clay County Fair Association bounced back in a big way in 2021 by creating a significant impact on the local economy, educating thousands of youth and providing a boost to other non-profit organizations.

"The Clay County Fair Association plays an important role in our community as a tourist attraction and destination," Fair & Events Center CEO Jeremy Parsons said in a news release."More than that, however, as a private non-profit organization that has been around for 105 years, the Clay County Fair Association is committed to making Spencer and Clay County a better place to live."

In 2021, the Clay County Fair Association positively impacted the community in the following areas:

• The Clay County Fair & Events Center employed 13 full-time, 54 part-time/seasonal and 381 fair-time employees.

• The fair association directly spent $1,997,687.41 with Clay County businesses and residents in 2021.

• At the 2021 fair, 13 local non-profit organizations raised a total of $545,816.48 through their food and beverage concessions, bingo and shuttles to support their local philanthropic activities. Those organizations included Clay County Cattlemen, Clay County Pork Producers, Clay County Extension, Daybreakers Kiwanis, Hy Noon Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus Bingo, Peterson Lions, Royal Lions, Spencer Area Shrine, Spencer Area Shrine ATV, Spencer Family YMCA, Spencer Jaycees and the Spencer Women of Today.

• 767 4-H/FFA youth from 42 counties in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska exhibited in livestock and human science events at the 2021 fair, while 1,300 third and fourth graders from 16 regional schools participated in ISU Extension Clay County's field trip programs at the fair.

• 311,588 people visited the Clay County Fair & Events Center in 2021, attending either the fair or one of the other 265 events hosted throughout the year. Non-fair event attendance totaled 34,199.

• The fair association supported 31 non-profit groups and charities in 2021 by providing $6,417 worth of merchandise, concert/event tickets, and admission tickets for their fundraising events (auctions, golf outings, etc.) or by serving as a sponsor and/or host. Some of these groups included Reins of Hope, Relay for Life, Spencer Jaycees Haunted House, Abben Cancer Golf Classic and Spencer Fine Arts Boosters.