presenting sponsor, ensuring a smooth transaction experience for attendees and vendors. “We are known as a buying fair; we have a waiting list of vendors, which I know that many fairs don’t, so I feel very blessed and fortunate to have that,” Brockshus affirms.“But keeping up with technology to help our vendors be able to close the deal is something we’re always working on.” Technology also plays a role in agricultural education and entertainment. In 2025, the fair hosted its first drone show, one of only a few in Iowa at the time. “As far as technology goes we use lots of different things. A fair is all about education and new things and trying to show that. So, we look for different ways to do that too.” INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE Sustaining a historic facility requires ongoing investment, and recent years have underscored the importance of long-term planning. In 2020, COVID forced the cancellation of the fair, at a time when more than 70 percent of annual revenue depended on those nine days. In response, the community launched the Save the Fair campaign, raising more than $1.6 million. “Our goal was not just to save the fair for one year,” Brockshus asserts.“We talked to fair goers that have been here for 50 years. We have a vendor who’s been here for 99 years, the same vendor business has been here. People have a really strong tie to this fair and 89 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01 CLAY COUNTY FAIR AND EVENTS CENTER
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