want to see it happen year in and year out. So, saving the fair is creating sources that keep generating revenue for future fairs.” Funds have been directed towards improvements such as air conditioning, upgraded power and drainage infrastructure, and enhanced camping facilities. Those investments proved themselves during severe flooding in 2024, when the fairgrounds served as an emergency resource for the community. “We were high and dry,”Brockshus recalls.“We housed the Red Cross and FEMA on grounds, and we were still able to have a fair in 2024. That’s the role that we play in the community, and that infrastructure needs to be updated and maintained all the time so we can be that facility.” Looking ahead, priorities include phased improvements to the grandstand,which is approaching its 100-year mark, continued maintenance of aging HVAC systems, and long-term planning for livestock facilities.“When we look at capital improvements, we want to see something we’re going to see a return on, because we’re stewards of these grounds and we want to leave it better than what we found it. We want to do those capital improvements that will be here and be usable for a long time down the road,” he stresses. LOOKING AHEAD As the Clay County Fair and Events Center looks to the future, the focus remains on expanding programming while staying true to its mission. Recent additions focus on Western-style entertainment, from indoor bull-riding events to roughstock competitions, and include plans for a full outdoor rodeo in partnership with the Spencer Chamber of Commerce. Along with this, concerts, comedians, and touring entertainment continue to grow in the event center and arena, offering audiences new reasons to visit Spencer year-round.“Our mission is pretty awesome,” concludes Brockshus. “We’re dedicated to creating a welcoming, memorable space where families can relax and truly enjoy themselves. Our role is to keep making that possible for everyone who visits.” 91 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01 CLAY COUNTY FAIR AND EVENTS CENTER
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