Corn huskers battle green corn but bask in sunshine during 2009 competition | Myers, Roberts take top honors in open classes (UPDATE: 5:45 p.m. Sept. 28)

The ground was damp, the corn was a bit green, but Missouri corn huskers rose to the challenge in the annual state corn husking competition in Marshall Saturday, Sept. 26.

Clifford Web, at 86 probably the senior competing corn husker at the event Saturday, works the tough corn during the Senior Men 75 and Over run. A number of huskers commented on the challenge of getting the fairly green corn husked cleanly. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Order this photo]

Huskers of all ages and from around the state gathered in a field on the northwest side of the Saline County Fairground to compete and converse. The event was, as usual, part fierce competition, part fun and part family reunion.

A line of thunderstorms moved through the area in the early morning hours and registration for the event was conducted under cloudy skies, but as the first runs were made, the sun broke through.

Lehman Jennings was at his post again as announcer for the event.

"It's going to be a good day. Rain's over. The sun's out," he said as competition was about to begin. He was right, as fair weather reigned for the rest of the day.

The weather was a blessing, but huskers from rookies to old pros commented on the challenge presented by the crop. Most of the leaves on the top several feet of the plants were still green, and the corn proved difficult to twist cleanly and quickly from the stalks.

Hunter Gilreath, 4, wrestles with the husks on an ear of corn during his first attempt at corn husking. His mother, Shanna Gilreath, took second place in the Women's 21 to 49 class. Hunter; his sister, McKenzie Gilreath; and several cousins represent the fourth generation of corn huskers in their family. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Order this photo]

"Last year was better," said Tyson Keller, 9, who came from the Amazonia area to compete. "It was drier. When it's drier, you can go faster."

The top huskers also wrestled with the corn.

"It's just tougher than a bootstrap in here," said Mitchel Burns, a perennial top competitor in the event and author of "The National," a book tracing the history of modern corn husking competitions.

"It just plain picked hard," he said after his run in the Senior Men's 50 to 74 age class.

Burns concluded that huskers would do well to start at a steady pace and pay attention to their technique.

"I took off like a house afire. Today, the key is to start out steady," he said.

He apparently took his own advice. After placing first in the senior men's class with a net score of 303 for a 20-minute run, he took second in the 30-minute Men's Open class with a 491 net score, getting edged out by friendly rival Rob Roberts, with 491.4.

Tyson Keller flings an ear of corn toward the bang board of the wagon during the Boys 21 and Under competition at the Missouri State Corn Husking Competition. He was in Marshall for the event with his father and grandfather. His grandfather, Sam Carneal of Amazonia placed second in the Senior Men's 50 to 74 class. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Order this photo]

Burns' 491 score in the open was about 15 points below his net score in last year's Men's Open.

After the official competitive classes were finished with their runs, a three-person team event was held, and this year that event included some unlooked-for contestants.

A number of cowboys who were at the fairground to compete in the Viking Stampede Rodeo heard about the corn husking competition and asked if they could participate.

They put together three teams, got a brief lesson in corn husking from veteran husker Henry Deal and gave it a go.

The regular huskers were delighted by the unusual style employed by the cowboys. Because the three-person team event doesn't count toward qualifying for the national competition, there is no need to worry about penalties for husks or gleanings, so the cowboys were ripping ears from the stalks with both hands, flinging everything toward the wagon.

An ear of corn sails through the air during the 2009 Missouri State Corn Husking Competition Saturday, Sept. 26, at Saline County Fairground. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"That kind of topped it all off," said local husker Lawrence Deal. "They had fun, too. They said if we have it next year the same weekend as the rodeo, they'll come."

Qualifying results for the national competition with net score:

Qualifying results with net score:

Women's Open Class (20 minute run)
1. Rochelle Myers, 332
2. Emma Johnson, 265
3. Mamie Smith, 262

Men's Open Class (30 minute run)
1. Rob Roberts, 491.4
2. Mitchel Burns, 491
3. Seth Roberts, 464.37

Women 21 to 49 (20 minute run)
1. Jo (Aulgur) Renzelman, 256
2. Shanna Gilreath, 218
3. Mamie Smith, 210

Men 21 to 49 (20 minute run)
1. Dennis Davis, 330
2. Lawrence Deal, 290.96
3. Sam Davis, 290
(Rob Roberts came in second but declined in favor of his open class position.)

Senior Women 50 to 74 (10 minute run)
1. Pat Becker, 100
2. Janice Aulgur, 76
3. Betty Linnenbringer

Senior Men 50 to 74 (20 minute run)
1. Paul Aulgur, 227
2. Sam Corneal, 216.72
3. D.D. Russell, 198.34
(Mitchel Burns came in first but declined in favor of his open class position. John Becker came in second but also declined.)

Senior Men 75 and Over (10 minute run)
1. John Becker, 137
2. Earl Ross, 119
3. Clifford Webb, 106

Girls Under 21 (10 minute run)
1. Kayla Davis, 85
2. Kristin Davis, 76.5
3. Devan Wilkerson, 59

Boys Under 21 (10 minute run)
1. Khris Deal, 114
2. Trenton Chevalier, 105
3. Josh Campbell, 65
(Seth Roberts came in first but declined in favor of his open class position.)

Rookies (10 minute run)
1. Josh Campbell, 146
2. Devan Wilkerson, 133
3. Travis Renzelman, 116

Huskers listed above in more than one class either were not present at the awards banquet or did not declare which class they would accept as qualification for the national competition.

The 2009 National Corn Husking Contest will be held Oct. 17-18 near Huntington, Ind.

In the corn toss competition, Joshua Fountain, 6, won the 6 and Under class with two throws totaling 67 feet; Lyssa Agcalon, 9, won the 7-12 class with two throws totaling 115 feet; and Henry Smith, 17, won the 13 and Over class with two throws totaling 316 feet.

Editor's note: This story first appeared Saturday, Sept. 26, on The Marshall Democrat-News Web site.

Contact Eric Crump at

marshalleditor@socket.net

Related stories:

Students learn about traditional corn harvesting and use:

www.marshallnews.com/story/1573468.html

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

www.marshallnews.com/story/1465535.html

2008 Missouri State Corn Husking Results:

www.marshallnews.com/story/1465280.html

On the Net:

www.cornhusking.com/