Background South Dakota Hand Corn Husking Contest : Farming & Agriculture Heritage & History

Introduction
(Background)

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Visitor
Information

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SD State
Contest

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Past SD
Contest Results

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Miscellaneous Links
and Information

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Other Dakota &
Heritage Events

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Support
The Contest

National Contest What's New Monroe28 (Site's sponsor personal page)

Background Page for South Dakota Hand Corn Husking

(note: images may be clicked for a larger view)

Facebook: South Dakota Hand Corn Husking

      Competitive corn husking is a timed event¹ scored² on the amount of corn picked with deductions for missed ears of corn and amount of husk remaining on the ears³.
      At the state contest for South Dakota, horse drawn wagons with a driver keep pace with the competing huskers. When hand husking was common, most horses were trained to follow the rows and the horses were guided with voice commands by the husker as to keeping the wagon at an appropriate position.
      The wagons have bang boards, high sides opposite the husker, to allow the huskers to concentrate more on picking and husking and less throwing the corn into the wagon. During the contest the thump of ears of corn on the bang boards can be heard.
      Visitors and newcomers may compete if they wish, but must register by the morning deadline. Watching is free, as is practice picking into a bucket carried by staff. For kids there is a corn box for kids to play in, corn husk doll making, horse drawn wagon rides, along with lawn games, and other activities. Visitors have also helped with gleaning and time keeping for the contest.

Endnotes:

1. Picking time is 10 to 30 minutes depending on Class.
2. Information on scoring
3. Excessive husks on the ears hampers the drying of stored ear corn and promote the growth of mold. Shelled corn (just kernals) can be stored at up to about 15 percent moisture content without it spoiling. Ear corn at 20 percent moisture or perhaps more may be placed in cribs with many openings for air flow and over a period of months it will dry without molding. (Some links and explanation about the previous sentence, Corn Storage Considerations).