Roberts, Myers take first in corn husking open classes Weather cooperates but crowd smaller than usual

Marshall High School student Brittany Hedrick surveys the results of her run in the Missouri State Corn Husking Competition Saturday, Sept. 27. Hedrick, in her second year of competition, took second place in the Girls Under 21 category. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Rob Roberts, a regular in the top spots of the Missouri State Corn Husking Competition, said these days he gets more satisfaction out of teaching the craft than competing.

Apparently, he taught his son well.

Seth Roberts, 18, carried on a family tradition Saturday, Sept. 27, at the annual corn husking event, taking first place in the men's open division.

Last year, Roberts' family did pretty well. Rob Roberts took first place in the men's age 21-49 division and his grandfather, Clifford Webb, then 86, took first in the seniors over 75 division.

Young Roberts took a crack at winning the open last year, bringing in more than 530 pounds of corn, but with deductions for husks and gleanings his net score was less than 300 pounds.

This year, Roberts tossed 637 pounds of corn into the wagon and earned a net score of 580.41, almost 65 pounds more than Dennis Davis in second place.

Mitchel Burns took third place with a net score of 515.79.

In the women's open division, Rochelle Myers carried on her own tradition, taking first place as she did last year and nearly every year this decade, this time with a net score of 395.

Julia Vanlaar came in second with 332 and Emma Johnson took third at 318.

The weather for the event was fine, with clear blue skies and temperatures that eventually reached the mid-80s.

Competitors in the longer afternoon events -- which include runs of 20 and 30 minutes -- reported feeling the heat, but there weren't any serious complaints. Veterans of the annual event recall competitions that have taken place in cold rain on muddy fields.

David Barnes, probably the senior husker at 93, said he remembers husking corn in Iowa once in the 1930s -- to bring in the crop, not as part of a competition -- when the snow was flying and the wind chill was below zero.

But the beautiful weather wasn't enough to bring out as many competitors or spectators as usual, according to veteran participants, several of whom speculated that the number of events in the area this weekend may have drawn some people from the corn husking event.

Others wondered whether high gas prices and uncertainty about the economy were to blame.

In any case, those who showed up gave the bang boards on the wagons a work out and enjoyed renewing acquaintances with other huskers from around the state.

Editor's note: For full results of all divisions, please see page 9.

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net