For all who have husked and shucked corn, you know the work it takes, and how much mechanized harvesting has helped. However, some people can husk by hand nearly as fast as corn pickers. In fact, people took such pride in their ability, a national competition developed. This week’s What’s New Wednesday celebrates South Dakota’s contribution to the contest in the form of a hat. Dell Rapids (Minnehaha County) hosted the 1938 National Corn Husking Contest. This fawn-colored hat reads “National Corn Husking Contest, Minnehaha County, South Dakota 1938”. The contest worked by a competitor walked along, cut the corn cob off the stalk and removed it from the husk. Then it would be thrown into a wagon pulled by a tractor. In the competition, the wagon had a board that kept the corn from going over the opposite edge. A time limit gave each competitor a fair playing field. The harvested corn is then weighed, with the weight of husks deducted. Minnesota’s own Ted Balko won the National Corn Husking Contest. To see the newsreel of this competition please visit: . Balko definitely had husking skills.
SDAHM 1968:100:001 Donated by Geneva Putz