Leon Native To Be New Director Of Iowa State Fair
Leon native Jeremy Parsons will become the new director of the Iowa State Fair. Gary Slater announced an intent to retire from the state in October after directing the fair for 21 years. Parsons is currently the CEO and manaager of the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa. He has held that position since 2011.
He has several capacities at both the Decatur County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. He was also a teacher and coach at the Newtown-Harris School District before he took a position as the executive director of the Missouri State Fair Foundation.
He has also held positions as Chairman of the International Association of Fairs and Expos and was named as the Fairman of the Year award from the Association of Iowa Fair in December of 2022.
He is married to the former Kelsi Fairley and has three sons.