Spencer Native Picked to Be New Head of Iowa State Fair

The man who has run the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa for more than a decade is moving up to take over as the new head of the Iowa State Fair.

Jeremy Parsons will officially be named CEO and manager of the Iowa State Fair in early March. He replaces Gary Slater, who has run the fair since 2001.

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It's a homecoming of sorts for Parsons, who worked as a seasonal employee at the State Fair 30 years ago.

Before taking over the Clay County Fair in 2011, Parsons served as the executive director of the Missouri State Fair Foundation.

Parsons has just completed his reign as Chairman of the International Association of Fairs and Expos (IAFE) and was honored with the Fairman of the Year award from the Association of Iowa Fairs in December of 2022.

The 2023 Iowa State Fair runs from August 10-20 in Des Moines.

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13 Famous Iowans

The Sunken Iowa Steamboat

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Only In Your State

Have You Ever Explored the 'War Eagle Monument' on the South Dakota/Iowa Border?

Originally being from the Sioux City area, I grew up knowing about the War Eagle Monument perched on a bluff along I-29. There was at least one field trip for every kid in the area to the monument.

However, speaking with folks from Sioux Falls, they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. All they know about I-29 in Sioux City was that it was usually under construction.

When crossing into Iowa from South Dakota on I-29, look up!

Filed Under: Des Moines, Iowa, Iowa State Fair, Spencer

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