Floods have damaged thousands of homes in Spencer and Clayton counties. (Photo: Eric Johansen)
For more than a century, throngs of visitors have flocked to the Clay County Fair every September for exhibitions, contests, carnival rides and live music. It’s the biggest county fair in Iowa, annually drawing crowds of more than 300,000.
But this year may look different. While Northwest Iowa is still reeling from the recent floods, leaders from the Clay County Community Foundation have sent an appeal for help from anyone who has enjoyed the famous fair and Iowa’s Great Lakes in neighboring Dickinson County.
“Spencer is the home to the cherished Clay County Fair, a symbol of our heritage and community spirit, and is a stop for many on the way to the Okoboji Lake resort area, a summer retreat that brings joy to countless families. These landmarks and the people who make them special are now facing unimaginable hardship,” according to a statement from the foundation’s executive director, Terri Batschelet.
Donations to the county’s disaster recovery fund will help cover the costs for emergency shelters for displaced families, as well as work to clean up and rebuild homes and community infrastructure.
