World's Greatest Fair

Each year of my life I have been attending at least one day of the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa.

This year I decided to make the main focus of my visit to record images that I have continuously seen every year as far as I can remember back. Some of these I am sure you will recall such as the amazing water spigot at the Culligan water booth. As a child it was such an puzzling sight.














This one was probably not noticed by many, but always caught my eye. Outside of the east end of the original commercial building is a root beer stand that has a barrel as a decoration over the serving taps.















After many years inside one of the buildings that hardworking chef cranking the taffy pulling maching is now in a trailer south of the grandstand.















The people selling the slicer-dicers are always fun with some of the comedy they do.
















The Middendorff Well Drilling Co. always had water running from a well they drilled right on the grounds. A special connection cause they were my neighbor in Sioux Rapids and the man in the door was a childhood playmate of mine and the son of the man that started the business.
















Everyone knows what Tom Thumb Donuts are. Remember what they used to cost per bag/doz??














Nutty Bar stands are like weeds- everywhere.















playing bingo with a card and corn kernels as markers.
Even when is was illegal, you bought a comb
and played"for free".















though vastly updated and moved to larger quarters,
the HO trains in the KICD building are a favorite to all
with the great detail and some recognizable locations
shrank to fit in the layout such as the fairgrounds itself































The performances presented over the years at the grandstand
included stock car races and monster trucks during the day and
the nightime had Roger Miller, the Statler Brothers, Travis Tritt,
Charlie Daniels, Tanya Tucker, Bill Cosby, Clay Aiken, and Wierd Al
Yankovic














Checking out camping units were a popular pastime but it gave
way to the modular homes now.















City kids also get a biology/anatomy lesson such as me explaining to
Deb the extra "package" this pig carries.















Although the midway had lost its appeal to my advanced age,
it was always a highlight even when it was moved from the
other end of the grounds.

















Finally the iconic main entrance. We never used it because in the early
times we parked on the grounds. When the family obtained a pickup
camper, meals were even prepared in the parking area. I guess we
were the original big time tailgaters. The camper also provided a
way to sneak in extra passengers through the gates














I will continue to attend this event for the rest of my
life. After all, I used to get in free for kids day and soon will
qualify for Senior day!!