Indiana Corn Husking Contest coming Oct. 4

By Erica Quinlan

equinlan@shawmedia.com

NAPPANEE, Ind. — Reed Farms will host the state and national corn husking contests this October.

The Indiana State Corn Husking Contest will be held Oct. 4. The national contest will take place Oct. 17-18.

Reed Farms is located at 27615 County Road 48 in Nappanee in northern Indiana.

“The Indiana Corn Husking Association and the National Corn Husking Association have been very active throughout 2025 promoting and preparing Indiana for one of the fastest-growing agricultural sports of the Midwest, with the opportunity to compete for a national title,” said Clay Geyer, president of the Indiana Corn Husking Association.

“This year will be an outstanding year for Elkhart County as Indiana kicks off 100 years of Hoosiers competing in corn-husking competitions.”

Indiana officially hosted its first corn-husking contest in 1926 in Flora, with more than 2,500 spectators.

Registration for the state contest is from 8 a.m., with the contest beginning at 9 a.m.

At the national contest, out-of-state huskers who do not have a contest of their own — such as Michigan— will qualify for their state from noon to 6 p.m. on Oct. 17.

The top three huskers of each class will advance to the National Hand Corn Husking competition on Oct. 18.

Registration will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The husking competition will start at 8 a.m., with youth classes first.

Off-road parking will be available, weather permitting. Side-by-sides, gators or golf carts are allowed on contest day.

“We prefer a cool, light breeze and a fall day with plenty of sun, but regardless of what Mother Nature dishes out, the contest will not be canceled for rain, sleet or snow,” Geyer said.

The Indiana corn-husking event is open to all Indiana residents and will also allow out-of-state huskers.

“If out-of-state- huskers wish to compete at nationals, those individuals must compete on Oct. 17 at Reed Farms to qualify for national contest the next day,” Geyer said.

There will be 13 classes offered for Indiana, ranging from youth boys and girls 14 and under to men and women golden-agers divisions for 65-plus. The cost to participate ranges from $10 to $20. Spectators can attend for free.

“You may participate in both an individual class and as a team of four contestants,” Geyer said.

At the national contest, there will be 12 classes offered, with no team competitions.

Event Highlights

• There will be an educational area for attendees to learn the proper techniques to get the best results while corn husking.

• Visitors can learn about the evolution of corn-harvesting techniques at each contest.

• The Indiana Corn Husking Association will have clothing, cookbooks and other items for sale throughout the day.

• A designated area will be corded off for kids’ activities and a corn pit.

• Husking wagons will be pulled by horses or tractors.

• A sheller will be shelling corn throughout the day.

• A display of antique tractors and corn items will be presented by the Corn Item Collectors Association.

• Food will be prepared by a local Amish school during the contest on Oct. 4 and Oct. 18.

• A national banquet will be held following the national competition Oct. 18 at the Blue Teal in Wakarusa, with guest speaker Fred Whitford of Purdue University. Attendees must RSVP.

The Indiana Corn Husking Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the education and historical preservation of the early methods of corn harvest and hand corn husking.

The state corn-husking association is seeking agricultural vendors, individuals wishing to display their antique equipment and volunteers.

To learn more, visit facebook.com/indianacornhusking, or call Geyer at 574-952-7197 or Ted Richard at 574-223-2747.