No joke: Iowans are embracing tall corn contest

Posted on Sep 29, 2009 by Dave Rasdal.

Tracey and Mike Myers of Williamsburg cut down a cornstalk Thursday from their 41-stalk “cornfield” as official measurer Eric Feller of Williamsburg, a representative of Edward Jones, looks on. The Myerses have joined hundreds of other Iowans in the Edward Jones Tall Corn Contest, promoted through Our Iowa magazine. (Dave Rasdal/The Gazette)

Corny jokes aside, standing in a field watching the corn grow has become a popular pastime for hundreds of Iowans.

That’s because Our Iowa magazine and Edward Jones have pollinated readers’ and customers’ minds this year with a tall corn contest. The winner receives $500 worth of corn-related goods — $200 of pork, $200 of beef and $100 of ethanol gasoline.

Mostly, they’ll win tall corn bragging rights in the tall corn state.

“We’ve won best restaurant in Iowa County, best burger in Iowa County,” says Michael Myers, owner of Myers Grill & Catering in Williamsburg. “Tallest corn,” he adds. “That would be sweet.”

With the help of official measurer Eric Feller, a local financial adviser representing Edward Jones, Michael and his wife, Tracey, cut down a test stalk from the “field” next to the restaurant last week. With tape measure in hand, Feller declared it to be 17 feet, 1 inch tall.

“I’m hoping to break 18,” Myers says, gazing up at yet a taller stalk.

Feller can’t help but believe the Myerses’ corn is a front-runner, but that won’t be known until contestants harvest official entries when the contest officially closes Thursday. Results will be published in the December/January magazine.

Newspapers around Iowa have reported 12-foot, 14-foot, even 16-foot corn. Supposedly, 50 people from Iowa County alone will enter the contest. So multiply that by Iowa’s 99 counties, and you’d approach 5,000 entrants.

The contest began in the spring when Our Iowa mailed packets of tall-growing Brazilian and Mexican corn kernels to its 50,000 subscribers. Edward Jones offices also handed out the seed.

Tracey and Mike Myers, Williamsburg corn growers

Jerry Wiebel, editor of Our Iowa, reports that contestants have watered their corn with everything from cola and beer to skim milk to encourage growth. He couldn’t help but add that the winner will be grinning “from ear to ear.”

Terry Foley, a former corn breeder who still works with hybrid corn, built a raised garden with special nutrients and a 23-foot-tall cage of reinforcing wire as stalk support. Unfortunately, after a fast start, Foley’s corn reached the tassel stage early and stopped growing, but, he says, “I’m a recovering corn breeder, and you don’t get over this.” He added that he’s looking forward to next year.

The Myerses planted their first batch March 28, but had to start over three weeks later when a “critter” ate the young plants. They kept a closer eye on the second batch.

“This is off the record,” Michael Myers says with a sly grin. “We put enough nitrogen on it to explode, and it grew and grew …”

“Yep,” Tracey Myers adds. “Like Jack and the cornstalk.”