County Fairs

New stage dedication to take place during Yearwood concert (09/06/08)
Sure, the performers are going to draw the focus most nights at the 2008 Clay County Fair. But the stage under their feet is worth some attention this year. It's new, it's bigger and it will bring the fair's favorite acts closer to the seats than they've ever been...

ISU Extension Connections at the Clay County Fair (09/05/08)
The public is invited to make an ISU Extension Connection during the 2008 Clay County Fair, Sept. 6-14. Visit the Ag Learning Center (Stub's Stable Building) just west of the small animal barn and connect with ISU Extension staff from northwest Iowa. ISU Extension Field Specialist and County Directors will be on hand to share information, answer questions, and visit with you about what ISU Extension can do for you...

Briefs 9-05-08 (09/05/08)
Fair booster tickets will be sold individually for $5 each, a savings of $2 from the regular daytime gate admission price for adults. Individuals and businesses may take advantage of the savings by purchasing tickets from a fair booster ticket location or a fair booster representative prior to 5 p.m. ...

Fair Treasure Hunt ready to roll (09/05/08)
Clay County fairgoers will have an opportunity to find out just how much they know about agricultural exhibits at the fair, and also have a chance to win great prizes with the second annual "Clay County Fair Ag Treasure Hunt." Visitors will have a chance to pick up a treasure hunt form from any of the fair information centers on the grounds. ...

Publisher interviewed for CBS Sunday Morning 'Dewey' segment (09/05/08)
Daily Reporter Publisher Paula Buenger is interviewed by CBS Sunday Morning's Martha Teichner for a segment that will air later in September regarding the impact of Dewey Readmore Books on the city of Spencer. The piece is tied to the release of former Spencer librarian Vicki Myron's novel, "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World." Myron will be signing copies of the book during the Clay County Fair...

BatschStein Salsa to add zest to fair (09/04/08)
Iowa's "fine home-made" BatschStein Salsa is now a limited liability corporation. Company founders Ethan Batschelet, 18, and Tyler Steinkamp, 20, began making their Clay County-based concoction when they amassed an extra-bountiful harvest of vegetables in 2006. Today's fine-tuned BatschStein Salsa recipe comes in mild, medium, hot and "super nova" varieties. The duo estimate they've prepared 600 pint jars of salsa between this spring and late summer...

Briefs 9-04-08 (09/04/08)
Arts on Grand will host an "open mic" event at 7 p.m. tonight. This is an excellent opportunity for local artists to share their talents in a casual, supportive environment. Interested musicians, poets, or anyone else who would like to take part may sign up in advance at Arts on Grand or just show up that evening...

Calling all bakers and canners (09/04/08)
Area bakers are encouraged to enter their favorite items at the Clay County Fair. In addition to two open class contests, there are 16 special contests to enter also. All the details and dates are available in the Creative Culinary Premium Book that is available online at www.claycountyfair.com under the agriculture tab. ...

'Nashville Star' finalist plans fair stop (09/04/08)
"Nashville Star" finalist Shawn Mayer is getting a chance to come home -- with the help of the Clay County Fair and local radio stations KICD, CD107.7 and Lite 104.9. Mayer is from May City in rural Osceola County and finished third in NBC's country music competition series this summer. Barring any travel snafus, Mayer will sign autographs from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the KICD Courtyard stage on the fairgrounds...

4-H non-livestock projects displayed at the State Fair (09/03/08)
The following Clay County 4-H members had non-livestock projects selected to represent the county at the Iowa State Fair. The exhibits were judged in Des Moines and exhibited throughout the run of the event. They will also be on display at the 4-H Exhibit Building at the Clay County Fairgrounds during the Clay County Fair...

Briefs 9-03-08 (09/03/08)
The Spencer Area Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon in the Southpark Mall parking lot. Come see the homegrown, fresh produce for sale. --- Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. ...

Ag Equipment Parades showcase best of farm machinery at fair (09/03/08)
Agricultural Equipment Parades will line the fairgrounds for three days during the 2008 Clay County Fair. The parades will be featured on the first Saturday and Sunday of the fair, September 6 and 7, and the last Friday, September 12. All parades will begin at 11 a.m. and entries will be announced in the KICD Courtyard...

Parkersburg tornado survivors to attend Clay County Fair (09/03/08)
It will be easy to spot the 50 people from Parkersburg who attend this Saturday's opening day of the 2008 Clay County Fair. They'll be wearing this black accessory. Paul Daniels, who has managed the U.S. Cellular stores in Spencer and Storm Lake since October, thinks the busload of tornado survivors Spencer resident Ted Cate is lining up to attend the celebrated annual event are in need of the getaway. ...

ISU Extension Connections at the Clay County Fair (09/02/08)
The public is invited to make an ISU Extension Connection during the 2008 Clay County Fair, Sept. 6-14. Visit the Ag Learning Center (Stub's Stable Building) just west of the small animal barn and connect with ISU Extension staff from northwest Iowa. ISU Extension Field Specialist and County Directors will be on hand to share information, answer questions, and visit with you about what ISU Extension can do for you...

Briefs 9-29-08 (09/02/08)
The Spencer Area Visually Impaired/Blind Self-Help Group will hold its monthly meeting at 1:30 p.m. today in the Round Room of the Spencer Public Library. Individuals of all ages with vision loss are invited to attend. Families and friends are welcome also...

Concert Association season tickets go on sale (09/02/08)
Season tickets for the Spencer Area Concert Association will go on sale Sept. 6 at Arts on Grand and at the Art Barn at the Clay County Fair. The 2008--09 season will be the biggest ever, with eight concerts in Spencer. Along with their season tickets, subscribers will receive an order form for tickets to the Vienna Boys Choir concert on Valentine's Day 2009. Tickets for the Vienna Boys Choir concert will go on sale to the general public on Nov. 1...

CCF2008 COUNTDOWN: 5 days to fair! (09/02/08)
Ahh, the life of showbiz! Always "Hamming It Up." You might say these performers are known for "Hogging The Spotlight". But for good reason. Introducing the world's foremost trained pig show, The Pork Chop Revue. The most amazing stunts and tricks performed by the biggest and most talented pigs you've ever seen...

OCM to host event at Clay County Fair (08/29/08)
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is sponsoring a major event to raise awareness about concentration of market power in the seed industry and the impacts on rural Iowa. The event, "Taking It Back: Bringing Fairness and Competition Back to the Seed Industry for Our Farmers," will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, in the 4H building at the Clay County fairgrounds in Spencer...

Briefs 8-29-08 (08/29/08)
A retirement coffee for Elmer Williams, city of Spencer street superintendent, will take place from 2-4 p.m. today in council chambers at City Hall. --- The Photography Department will be accepting entries from 12-7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30. The photography department is now located just east of the Pork Producers Chop Shop and directly south of the outdoor horse arena. Pre-registration is encouraged...

Briefs 8-28-08 (08/28/08)
Music will return to the gallery at Arts on Grand tonight after a brief hiatus due to Mainstreet Market. This week's music will be provided by popular local entertainers Jerry Roberts and Dennis Wienke. They will perform a variety of traditional music, country music, and rock-and-roll oldies beginning at 7 p.m. A $5 donation is requested, with all proceeds going to the musicians...

Briefs 8-27-08 (08/27/08)
Music will return to the gallery at Arts on Grand this Thursday after a brief hiatus due to Mainstreet Market. This week's music will be provided by popular local entertainers Jerry Roberts and Dennis Wienke. They will perform a variety of traditional music, country music, and rock-and-roll oldies beginning at 7 p.m. A $5 donation is requested, with all proceeds going to the musicians...

National Anthem tryouts for Corbin Bleu concert (08/27/08)
Friday, Sept. 12, National Anthem tryouts for area high school students will be held in the 4-H Auditorium during the Clay County Fair. The winner of the competition will perform the National Anthem before the Corbin Bleu and Drew Seeley concert on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m...

Biden no stranger to Spencer Democrats (08/26/08)
U.S. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware hoped for the top spot on the ticket less than a year ago when he stopped at the Clay County Fair. Friday he was selected as presumptive nominee Barack Obama's running mate. Democrats hope Biden's expertise in foreign policy and his blue-collar appeal will be a draw for voters in the Nov. 4 general election...

Hessman honored by the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame (08/21/08)
Dave Hessman, former Clay County Extension Education Director, was inducted into the 2008 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 17. Eighty-two Iowa counties have participated this year and selected inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H...

Briefs 8-20-08 (08/20/08)
The Iowa Great Lakes Region Antique Automobile Club will be on display through Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Southpark Mall in south Spencer. Car enthusiasts and history buffs will enjoy this display. On Aug. 24 The Hands of Harmony Swinging Seniors will be entertaining us at 2:30 p.m. Come enjoy the display and entertainment...

Creative Culinary welcomes new contests (08/20/08)
Area culinary masters will be put to the challenge when they participate in new canned goods and oven products contests at the 2008 Clay County Fair. The new contests are sure to please fairgoers and competitors alike. Marking the first of seven new contests is the "Busy Women's Casseroles Contest". ...

Briefs 8-19-08 (08/19/08)
The Iowa Great Lakes Region Antique Automobile Club will be on display through Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Southpark Mall in south Spencer. Car enthusiasts and history buffs will enjoy this display. On Aug. 24 The Hands of Harmony Swinging Seniors will be entertaining us at 2:30 p.m. Come enjoy the display and entertainment...

Local competitors 'fair' well (08/16/08)
Several Clay County residents participated in judged events at the Iowa State Fair. Here are some of the local results: Breeding Beef Dustin Biedenfeld, Peterson, Limousine, Purple- Reserve Champion and Blue; Jenna Biedenfeld, Peterson, Limousin, Purple;...

'People's Choice Salsa Contest' to tempt fairgoers taste buds (08/14/08)
A new and inventive competition, the "People's Choice Salsa Contest", comes to the 2008 Clay County Fair. The contest will be on Saturday, Sept. 13 and is part of the Creative Culinary division which includes competitive categories in canned goods and oven products...

McCain has invite to Clay County Fair (08/14/08)
State Rep. Mike May, a Spirit Lake Republican, said he has been in contact with the John McCain campaign and hopes the likely Republican nominee will include Spencer's biggest event in a post-convention victory tour. The 2008 Republican National Convention will take place Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis. The 2008 edition of the Clay County Fair is Sept. 6-14. Along with timing, crowd numbers can't hurt the odds of a Spencer visit -- the fair drew more than 319,000 visitors in 2007...

Milford woman wins Iowa Lottery promotion (08/13/08)
DES MOINES -- A northwest Iowa woman drove away from the Iowa State Fair in a new, 2008 four-wheel drive Chevy Tahoe Hybrid�, the grand-prize in the Iowa Lottery's "Set of Wheels" promotion. Nancy Fear of Milford was selected as the grand-prize winner in the promotion drawing Thursday on the Susan Knapp Amphitheater stage at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Fear said she was excited to share the news with her adult children...

Briefs 8-13-08 (08/13/08)
St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Hartley, is sponsoring a community-wide benefit for the family of Jan Hall to help defray medical bills incurred during Jan's battle with illness. The free-will dinner and auction will be held at the Hartley Community Center on Thursday, Aug. ...

Agency issues call for fair workers (08/13/08)
Iowa Workforce Development is renewing its annual call for workers during the nine days of the Clay County Fair. People who want to work at the Sept. 6-14 event may sign up now at the Iowa Workforce Development office, 217 West Fifth St., Spencer, either in person or by calling 712-262-1971 ext. 123. Hours for the sign up are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday...

Briefs 8-12-08 (08/12/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Calhoun County's Quade crowned state fair queen (08/12/08)
Ashley Quade, 17, of Calhoun County was crowned the 2008 Iowa State Fair Queen on Saturday, August 9, by Gary VanAernam, president of the Fair Board. The ceremony took place on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage, sponsored by Pepsi. The daughter of Kim and Paul Quade, Ashley was chosen out of the 102 contestants who participated in this year's competition. All had been crowned queen of their respective county fairs prior to the State Fair...

Briefs 8-06-08 (08/06/08)
Losing a loved one is indescribable to someone who has not felt the loss of death. Hospice of Northwest Iowa's professional team understands the tragedy of losing a loved one and they identify with the difficult decisions and emotions that the person left behind faces. To help people cope with the death of a loved one, Hospice of Northwest Iowa is offering an 8-week Understanding Grief Support Group. The group will meet each Wednesday evening through Sept. 24 from 6:30-8 p.m...

Winning 4-H Club rewarded (08/05/08)
Lincoln Lions 4-H Club was rewarded with a picnic complements of Clay County Extension during the club's July 20 meeting held at Scharnburg Park. The 4-H club was given this honor because they won the 4-H Share the Fun Club Challenge during Communications Day...

Briefs 7-25-08 (07/25/08)
The Spencer Family YMCA will be hosting its annual carnival today at the YMCA. It is open to all Spencer kids in kindergarten through sixth grades only. All playground parks will be closed that day and will meet at the YMCA. Also, any child in Kids Kamp or childcare at the YMCA will be able to attend. Kids can purchase tickets at the YMCA or through any park counselor...

New grandstand stage arrives in pieces (07/24/08)
Early delivery for Mr. Phil Hurst and the Clay County Fair. With original projections calling for the delivery of the Clay County Fair's new performance stage for the grandstand in August, Bob Maurer delivered a bit early. A large group of fair board members, the Spencer Ambassadors and others were on hand to watch the arrival of the state-of-the-art stage, designed to allow more personal and dynamic interaction between the Grandstand acts and audiences in the stands...

Annual wooden boat show launches July 26 (07/23/08)
Classic boats will line the shoreline of West Lake Okoboji later this moth as the 27th Annual Antique and Classic Wooden Boat show launches Saturday, July 26. "We run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the wooden boat show in front of the wooden roller coaster," said Paul Hedberg, president of the Jerry Dyhrkopp chapter of the Iowa Great Lakes Antique and Classic Wooden Boating Society. ...

Much achieved on Achievement Day (07/23/08)
The 2008 Clay County Fair grew by hundreds of exhibits Tuesday as members of 15 Clay County 4-H clubs entered potential projects which were evaluated and critiqued during the annual 4-H Achievement Day. The daylong event, which was hosted in the 4-H auditorium on the Clay County fairgrounds, allowed youth to showcase what they've learned in their respective project areas...

Briefs 7-23-08 (07/23/08)
The Spencer Area Farmers Market will be held every Wednesday and Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the Southpark Mall parking lot. Come see the homegrown, fresh produce for sale. --- Don Piper, a best-selling author, speaker and minister, will share his message of hope and healing beginning at 7 p.m. ...

Firecracker 50 debuts at Clay County Speedway (07/10/08)
Chad Simpson made his own fireworks as he drove the World Dirt Racing League win at Clay County Speedway. Simpson would lead all fifty laps despite a series of caution flags that kept the field close. Chad Simpson (Mount Vernon, IA) started on the outside front row and had the lead as he and pole-sitter Denny Eckrich came off of turn two. Simpson rode the top shelf to the win all night...

Rock 'n' roll legends highlight Tuesday's fair (06/20/08)
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers, The Diamonds, are set to perform in front of the Clay County Fair Grandstand twice on Tuesday, Sept. 9 - at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Joining The Diamonds for the two shows, will be Iowa Rock' N Roll Music Association Hall-of-Famers, The Fabulous Traidmarx...

Turner to take stage Sept. 12 (06/14/08)
The versatile sound of hot country artist Josh Turner will entertain fans at this year's Clay County Fair. Special guest Luke Bryan will open for Turner at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 12 in the Grandstand. A multi-platinum recording artist, Turner is best known for his unique sounding vocals that bring a fresh feel to today's country scene. ...

RiseFest brings Mercy Me to northwest Iowa (06/06/08)
RISE Ministries, Inc. will host the fourth Annual RiseFest on June 21 in Orange City, at the Northwestern College Soccer Complex. This year's Christian music festival is bringing you Mercy Me for only $15 a ticket (children 10 and under are free). Admission to the day-long event also includes the popular bands Go Fish, Addison Road, and DecembeRadio...

Nashville superstar Aldean to perform at Clay County Fair (06/05/08)
Country's new breed of fun-loving, down-home boys will travel to the 2008 Clay County Fair to entertain fans on Sunday, Sept. 7. Eric Church will open the show at 7:30 p.m. with superstar, Jason Aldean to follow. A Macon, Ga. native, Aldean, made his big break on the country music scene in 2006 with the pulsing beat of his hit song "Hicktown." The popular tune helped make a relatively unknown artist one of today's hottest country stars. ...

Beach Boys to close Clay County Fair (05/29/08)
Rock and Roll superstars, The Beach Boys, will provide an exciting conclusion to the 2008 Clay County Fair with an appearance on the Grandstand stage at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. Formed in 1961, The Beach Boys have served as one of America's most accomplished groups. Their songs of California girls, surfing and cars have reached across all generations and now will entertain fans at the 2008 Clay County Fair...

Werk to join the Clay County Fair Staff (05/28/08)
Robyn Werk, a West Central Minnesota native and recent South Dakota State University graduate, will take on the position of assistant to the secretary manager of the Clay County Fair. Werk graduated with a degree in agriculture journalism and a minor in animal science...

Grandstand acts have room to roam (05/24/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Sure, the performers are going to draw the focus most nights at the 2008 Clay County Fair. But the stage under their feet is worth some attention, too. It's new, it's bigger and it will bring the fair's favorite acts closer to the seats than they've ever been...