State corn husking competition will mark centennial milestone

Hoosiers have been all ears this year as they have been eyeing a small secret: We are officially celebrating 100 years of Indiana corn husking competitions.

Even though Indiana huskers have been competing in husking bees long before 1926, we recognize Flora in mid-northwestern Indiana as the home to the very first Indiana state hand corn husking competition in the fall of 1926.

Dating back 100 years ago, more than 2,500 spectators gathered in a cornfield to witness 10 contestants battling the bang boards for the top husker.

Every year membership and spectator numbers grow. This year we are excited to see past huskers once again and share this experience with new huskers, as well.

Each year we have well over 100 registered huskers, and the event usually draws upward of 300-plus people on contest day.

Our sponsors provide us with donations to cover expenses and, of course, cash prizes, gift cards and products, too, from local businesses that will be awarded at our fall banquet.

This is a great family-oriented and family-friendly activity that draws all ages to compete in the respected age group, while experiencing a blast from the past to see how corn was harvested prior to machine. Other activities will include a corn pit, cornhole, gravity wagon basketball and more.

This corn husking competition is open to all Indiana residents and others who wish to join in on the fun. We have 12 different age groups from youth to golden agers and a team competition, too.

Contestants register the morning of the contest and report to the field where they can draw a number that assigns them to a particular part of the cornfield to husk corn. A husking wagon with a bang board affixed to the left or right of the wagon is pulled through the field with the team of horses or a tractor.

Each class is timed in a 10- or 20-minute heat. The contestant will pull the ear of corn from the stalk and remove as many husks from the ear as they can before tossing each ear into the wagon.

A gleaner will follow each husker to look for ears that were missed on the stalk or bounce off the wagon. Once the contestant has finished, they will shovel their corn into a tub where it is weighed and inspected for excess husks.

There will be no admission fee or fee to park. Huskers wishing to compete will pay a membership fee of $10 to $20 depending on the class.

The top three huskers of each class, except for teams, will advance to the national contest held in Marshall in west-central Missouri.

Food, drinks and ice cream will be available and prepared by the Schwartz family. The Indiana Corn Husking Association will have clothing, potholders and blankets for sale, as well.

Reed Farms will be hosting the 2026 Indiana State Corn Husking Contest on Saturday, Oct. 3. Reed Farms is located at 27615 County Road 48, Nappanee.

Husking starts at 9 a.m., and the registration lasts from 8 a.m. through 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

For additional information, contact Clay Geyer at 574-952-7197 or Ted Richards at 574-223-2747, as well as facebook.com/indianacornhusking.