Corn Huskers Keep Tradition Going
Published: Friday, October 11, 2024
It may be the slow version, but those who participated in the Indiana State Hand Corn Husking Contest last weekend were happy to "embrace the pace" in Nappanee.
The annual husking event celebrates the old-fashioned method of harvesting corn. Back in the 1920s, large crowds came from across the Midwest to witness the competition. NBC radio was on hand to report the activities.
A farmer husking corn by hand can pick approximately 100 bushels of corn in a nine-hour day. To show how far we've come, today's modern combines can harvest the same amount in less than five minutes.
Today, a dedicated group of volunteers, led by Clay Geyer of Lakeville, work year-round to promote the state contest and keep the corn-husking tradition going. Last Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day, weatherwise, as 103 people gathered at the Reed farm to compete. Members of the NorthWood and LaVille FFA chapters served as timers and gleaners.
"The weather is awesome," said Geyer, who is president of the state corn husking association. "It always rains on corn husking day. I can't ask for nicer weather."
For the second year in a row, Kevin Lambright of Hudson was the overall husking champion. He paced the men's open division with a net score of 434.3 pounds in 20 minutes.
Scores reflect the total pounds of corn husked minus deductions for missed or unhusked corn. The top three individuals from each division qualified for the national contest to be held Oct. 19-20 in Hastings, Iowa.
Placing second was Ted Richard of Rochester, who tossed in 343.75 pounds. Jeremiah Wagler of Odon, Ind. ranked third in the men's open division with a score of 173 pounds. One Michigan husker, David Shafer, competed as an individual and husked 176.2 pounds in 20 minutes.
In the young men's division, Andrew Bruns of Brookville tossed in 330 pounds to take first place. Clay Geyer of Bremen was second with 315 pounds, and Lane Eckrote of Macy finished in third place with 312.54 pounds.
Melvin Helmuth of Nappanee led the way in the men's senior division with 299.6 pounds in 20 minutes. In second and third places, respectively, were Mervin Bontrager of Nappanee, with 283.1 pounds, and Rolland Miller of Plymouth, with 281.47 pounds.
In the young women's division, Shaylee Kelly of Warsaw placed first with a score of 241 pounds in 20 minutes. Lucretia Eckrote of Macy was second with 201 pounds, and Jennifer Edwards of Sullivan, Ind. was third with 173 pounds.
There was only one competitor in the women's open division, LuAnn Ambriole of Roanoke, who tossed in 134.07 pounds.
Darlene Bender of Wolcottville outhusked the competition in the women's senior division. Her score of 115.8 pounds put her ahead of Plymouth's Laura Clark, who had 102.59 pounds, and Medaryville's Sue Nielsen, who husked 102 pounds.
In the youth competition, Dylan Bruns of Brookville husked 96 pounds in 10 minutes, good enough for first place among boys 14 and under. Rocco Aggertt of Plymouth was second with 65.57 pounds, and Philip Schwartz of Nappanee was third with 50.55 pounds.
For girls 14 and under, Callie Aggertt of Plymouth was first with 53.36 pounds. In second place was Sabrya Hawley of Plymouth with 45 pounds. Olivia Colanese of Plymouth was third with 35 pounds.
With 85 pounds husked, Cora Burns of Macy had the best score among girls 15-20. Kinzlee Kelly of Rochester was second with 67.9 pounds, and Cheyenne Hawley of Plymouth was third with 53 pounds.
For boys 15-20, Gage Richard of Rochester led the way with 179.45 pounds. Marshall Finke of Kewanna secured place with 123.51 pounds, and Kane Finke, also of Kewanna, husked 112.26 pounds.
In the Golden Ager's division, Eli Wagler of Odon, Ind. placed first with 104 pounds in 10 minutes. Wayne Rough of Walkerton was second with 88 pounds, and Jerry Calloway of Macy was third with 73.29 pounds.
Janice Hurford of Plymouth paced the field for women's Golden Ager's with a score of 66.74 pounds. Phyliss Calloway of Macy was second with 56.74 pounds, and Barb Amiss of North Manchester was third with 46.04 pounds.
In team husking, a group known as Rip & Toss from Nappanee husked 342 pounds to take first place. The Eckrote/Finke team from Akron tossed in 270 pounds, earning second place. In third place was the Bontrager Group of Nappanee with 257 pounds.
The huskers tossed ears one-by-one into a horse-drawn wagon as they moved through the four-acre field, divided into 12-row sections. Two of the horses belonged to Roger and Penny DePew of Albion. Penny said Suffolk Punch draft horses are rare, as only a couple thousand are known to exist in the U.S. The Suffolks are a "very calm breed," she said.
The DePews have been coming to the corn husking contest for over 20 years.
In 2025, the Reed farm will host both the state and national corn husking contests. Geyer said there will be two fields reserved for husking—one for the state contest and one for the national event.
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