2C The North Scott Press of Eldridge, Iowa/Wilton-Durant Advocate News of Wilton, Iowa/West Liberty Index of West Liberty, Iowa

| October 28-29, 2020

COUNTRY CONNECTION

When
corn
husking
was king Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1940. The Missouri boys, Verner Rice, of Keytesville, Mo., right, and the 1940 Missouri
corn husking champion, Ted Koger of Elmer, Mo. Upper Mississippi Photo Archive

'In reality, they were athletes in the way the greatest sports athletes are today.' Glen Keppy

S
ome 80 harvest seasons have passed since
Henry Keppy Sr.’s farm northwest of Davenport
basked in the national spotlight and American
agriculture took center stage before a crowd of tens of
thousands.
It was late October of 1940 when 60 acres of the
farmland that had supported the Keppy family —
including Henry, wife Anna and 10 grown children
— was transformed into the competition site for the
National Cornhusking
Contest.
While the actual
competition came on
the final day, Oct. 30, the
fun stretched four days
beginning on Sunday, Oct.
27, with the dedication of
the Keppy cornfield.
“It was a test of who
A note on this photo, and many news accounts, affirm the crowd that covered 60 acres
Continued on following pages of Scott County for the National Cornhusking championship.

Stories and photos by Jennifer DeWitt for The North Scott Press and Country Connection
Archival photos are from the Keppy family collection, including contributions to the Upper Mississippi Photo Archive, .umvphotoarchive.org, a collection of
60,000 photos curated by a Davenport Public Library collaboration with Augustana College Special Collections, and the Musser Public Library in Muscatine.

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4C The North Scott Press of Eldridge, Iowa/Wilton-Durant Advocate News of Wilton, Iowa/West Liberty Index of West Liberty, Iowa | October 28-29, 2020

COUNTRY CONNECTION
“It was the biggest sporting event in history up to that point. My dad could not
get over all the people and the cars and cars and cars.” Nancy Meyer

Continued from previous page of the combine, and World War II

changed the face of farming. “There
could do their job the best,” longtime was contsant change in what was
Scott County farmer Glen Keppy said of happening in America. This was a small
the contests, corner of the world, but it was a huge
which were very popular in the 1920s event,” he said.
and 1930s. “This was the only way corn
was picked back then … In reality, they Competition among growers
were athletes in the way the greatest Henry Keppy’s 60 acres of hybrid
sports athletes are today.” corn in Sheridan Township ultimately
Keppy, now 73, had not been born was selected for the contest field. But
when his grandparents’ farm hosted the a total of four area farmers were in
“Rose Bowl of Agriculture.” the running for the honor and tasked
But he proudly can retell stories of with planting corn rows that could
the historic event as passed down by his potentially host the event.
grandparents and his parents, Roy and The other sites were: the Grover
Myrtle Keppy (who coincidentally met Hahn farm at Hahn’s corner on Hickory
during the event). “It was phenomenal Grove Road; the William Moeller
to hear my dad and others talk about farm northwest of Walcott in Cleona
it,” he said in an interview in his Township; and the Albert Schneckloth
Eldridge home. farm, four miles east of Eldridge in
Though some details are beginning Lincoln Township.
to blur, Glen Keppy cherishes a Nancy Meyer, one of Henry and Anna
scrapbook compiled by his mother Keppy’s granddaughters, recalled the
of the spectacular event. Filled with other farmers each received rejection
faded newspaper clippings, contest letters written on a manual typewriter.
advertisements, score sheets and Decades later, she received one of those
other memorabilia, it is a treasure families’ scrapbooks as a gift. Its last
trove of written history on how Scott entry was the rejection letter.
County prepared for and pulled off the “It was the biggest sporting event
granddaddy of cornhusking contests. in history up to that point,” said
The county had hosted smaller Meyer, whose now late father, Charles
cornhusking contests and beat out eight “Charlie” Keppy, was 28 at the time.
other Iowa communities vying to draw “My dad could not get over all the
what would become one of the largest people and the cars and cars and cars.”
cornhusking crowds ever.
While contests continued to be held Widespread attention
after 1940, Keppy said, “This was the The national event was preceded
last big contest at my grandpa’s place.” by local and state cornhusking meets
He added that modernization in farm
equipment, especially the introduction Continued on next page

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 October 28-29, 2020 | The North Scott Press of Eldridge, Iowa/Wilton-Durant Advocate News of Wilton, Iowa/West Liberty Index of West Liberty,Iowa 5C

COUNTRY CONNECTION
Continued from previous page J.N. Wells, president, and Chas. Lewis,
vice president. Lewis had been the
across the Corn Belt, and enjoyed general chairman of the 1935 Iowa
extensive media coverage. Journalists cornhusking state meet.
traveled to Davenport to report for A three-man committee, including
daily and weekly newspapers, regional Lewis, Farm Bureau county agent Carl
and national farm magazines and Rylander and Davenport Chamber
other publications. W.E. “Bill” Drips, of Commerce’s Henry Dannico, was 1940 corn husking competition facts
of Chicago, covered the event for the tasked with studying the management
National Broadcasting Co. on his problems experienced by such corn Scott County beat out eight Iowa was set up on 40 acres owned by Mr. and
National Farm and Home radio hour. derbies. A local group scouted the communities to host the 1940 national Mrs. Elmer Hamann, and a field owned and
The action also included flyovers 1939 national cornhusking event in cornhusking derby: Clarion, Iowa Falls, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Dengler.
by a Goodyear blimp and a dozen Lawrence, Kan. Marshalltown, Des Moines, Red Oak, Cedar Charley Dengler provided a piece of
airplanes, many of which captured the Ahead of the national matchup, local Rapids, Oskaloosa and Clinton. stubble land for the plowing tournament.
aerial photographs for distribution and regional newspapers followed the
nationwide. contest preparations – as well as the
Four alternative Scott County farm The cornhusking derby site was located
Throngs of Midwest farmers and Keppy family itself – in great detail. At
city-folk alike soaked in the good old- the time, Henry Keppy’s sons Charlie sites were initially chosen to grow corn near the present-day intersection of
fashioned fun of the tent city that filled and Roy were both active in the farm’s for the contest. They included farms or Slopertown Road and Hillandale. The
Keppy’s and his neighbors’ farms. operations. combinations of land owned by cornhusking committee leased every acre
A “circus combined with a county The 75-year-old Meyer, who grew up Henry Keppy, Walter Dengler, within two miles of all the chosen sites in
fair” was how one newspaper account hearing the same stories as her cousin Ned Curtis, Walter Stutt, Albert order to prevent commercial concerns
described the festivities. Glen, said her father Charlie was a co- Schneckloth, William Moeller, Rudolph from capitalizing on the event, a document
The adjacent Elmer Hamann farm owner of the farm at the time. “But he Wiese, Meyer Bros., Obert Plambeck indicated.
was occupied by food tents, contest wanted his father to have the honor (of and Grover Hahn, host to the 1935 state
exhibits, entertainment platform, a the contest), and he left the farm in his meet. At the time, the site was accessible only
scoreboard and feature displays. name,” she said. “Dad and Grandpa had by paved Highway 74. The Scott County
The event spread over the farms of to do the planting and preparing for the The four potential sites were known as Board of Supervisors and Iowa Highway
Chas. “Charley” Dengler and Walter contest.” the Henry Keppy Sr. farm, northwest of Commission had the adjoining gravel roads
Dengler. Even more nearby farms were Henry's sons Ralph, Raymond and
Davenport in Sheridan Township; the oiled in every direction.
enlisted to provide an estimated 500 Roy were active in local cornhusking
acres of parking. circles, and early on were believed to
Grover Hahn farm at Hahn’s corner on
be possible competitors for the national Hickory Grove Road; the William Moeller Today, the Keppy farm is owned by the
Site selection title on their own land. Although farm, northwest of Walcott in Cleona Charlie Keppy LLC (named for one
The chance to play host to the 1940 Ralph advanced to the state meet after Township; and the Albert Schneckloth of Henry and Anna’s 10 children). The
national event was an extreme honor winning the Scott County contest farm, four miles east of Eldridge in Lincoln corporation is made up of Charlie Keppy’s
and an economic boon for all of Scott in 1940, he placed third and failed to Township. five daughters and their families. Beginning
County. In fact, the region’s top leaders qualify for the national contest. three years ago, 40 were rented to the North
in agriculture and business devoted In addition to Charlie, Ralph, A 60-acre farm parcel, owned by then Scott FfA for its Student Farm plot.
better than a year to planning and Raymond and Roy, the Keppys had two 63-year-old Henry Keppy and his wife,
lobbying for the contest. other sons, Albert and Henry Jr., and Anna, was selected as the husking contest Fenced in for the first time in a contest
A Who’s Who of Scott County four daughters: Mrs. Walter Dengler, field. and surrounded by “No Trespassing” signs,
agricultural, business and civic Mrs. Norma Meier, Mrs. Ernest Alberts Henry Keppy’s corn husking field was
leaders helped establish Scott County and Anna, then a student at Iowa State In addition to the Keppy’s contest protected by guards from the National Youth
Enterprises of Iowa, Inc. to sponsor the College.
grounds, the event sprawled across three Administration before the contest.
contest and handle its business affairs.
The new corporation’s officers included Continued on next page other adjacent farms. A concession field

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6C The North Scott Press of Eldridge, Iowa/Wilton-Durant Advocate News of Wilton, Iowa/West Liberty Index of West Liberty, Iowa | October 28-29, 2020

COUNTRY CONNECTION
Continued from previous page “They started at one end of the field
and came down to the concessions
“No. 1 stand of corn” area, then they turned around and had
A news clipping, publication to go back,” Glen Keppy said. “It was
unknown, indicated that it was son definitely a skilled thing to be good at it,
Raymond who sparked the family’s but it was also brute strength and luck.
interest in the project. Some people worked a lifetime at the
Having been in the fields with the skill.”
contest officials, he remarked at the Using the tools of the day – a
family supper table that they were single hook corn husker knife-like
having difficulty in finding suitable tool – strapped to the palm, each man
contest fields. “If we planted our field removed ear after ear from the stalks
crossways, it would work out perfect for with one hand and peeled away the
a contest field,” he said. husks with the other.
After having his corn selected as the As the corn was thrown in the wagon,
competition site, Henry Keppy told a it would “bang” on 3-foot-high wooden
reporter, “I have a No. 1 stand of corn, boards attached to the wagon to keep
and I feel sure that there will be a yield the corn from flying out. The practice
of about 90 bushels to the acre.” gave the contest its “Battle of the
Compared to his test field, the elder Bangboards” moniker.
Keppy said, “The ears are not as large “A good husker would have four Leona Bender poses in an automobile exhibit, another draw to the 1940 event.
as they were on our stalks last year, ears of corn in the air at a time,” Glen
but there are two or three good ears to Keppy said. “One would be hitting the
each stand, even though the continued bangboard. Another would be two-
hot weather this summer somewhat thirds of the way to the wagon. One
hindered the yield.” had just left the husker’s hand and the
fourth he’d just be picking off.”
Battle of the bangboards “It would take these people just
An estimated 125,000 to 160,000 seconds (to pick a stalk clean and bang
spectators were believed to have the board),” he added.
watched 21 contestants – representing Between the sharp tools and the
11 Corn Belt states – compete for the sheer speed, he said the work “could be
coveted cornhusking title on that bloody.”
autumnal Wednesday. 1940 cornhusker champ
“Solid masses of humanity jammed
the corn rows between the husking When the 80-minute contest ended
lands to such an extent that it was at 1:05 p.m., the wagons were taken
almost impossible to move about in the to the weighing dock, where judges
field during the contest,” The Register’s meticulously weighed the loads
farm editor J.S. Russell wrote. – deducting for husk weights and
He concluded that it was “probably gleanings. The winner was determined
the largest single crowd that assembled by who had the most net husking.
A Times Democrat story reported that Oct. 29, 1940: Dignitaries at the head table of the National Corn Husking banquet
for any one event in the state of Iowa.” at the Davenport Masonic Temple. From left: J.A. Carroll, secretary of Canadian
Beginning promptly at 11:45 a.m., the the ears were small, but the stalks were
short, which helped boost the amount Plowman's Association; J.N. Wells, president of Scott County Enterprises, Inc; N.B.
contestants each were assigned four
husked. Curtis, entertainment chairman; Cliff Grefory, toastmaster and associate publisher
corn rows and were coordinated with a
horse-drawn wagon.
of Wallace's Farmer; and Robert J. Shaw, speaker and state commander of American
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 October 28-29, 2020 | The North Scott Press of Eldridge, Iowa/Wilton-Durant Advocate News of Wilton, Iowa/West Liberty Index of West Liberty,Iowa 7C

COUNTRY CONNECTION

2020 husking event resumes in Iowa to the Iowa contest field Sept. 19 to Saturday of the month. to wait,” said Laurie Millensifer,
The yesteryear skill of cornhusking
is still alive and well, particularly in husk corn by hand. Participation The Buffalo Bill Cultural Center administrator of Buffalo Bill Cultural
Iowa, where the state contest went off was down slightly from last year’s 82 in Oakley, Kan., which annually Center. “It was better than setting up
in September without a hitch. pickers due to the coronavirus, said hosts the Kansas state tournament, for failure.”
Four years ago, the Iowa State Christiansen, of Clarinda. had been in line to also host the 2020 The Oakley Corn Festival,
Hand Cornhusking Contest relocated “Between the move and (the national tournament earlier this including the national and the Kansas
to Hastings after about an eight-year contest) starting to grow again, it is month, until COVID-19 put an end to state cornhusking contests, will
run in the Amana Colonies. The gaining in popularity with people of its plans. return there Oct. 16-17, 2021.
Indian Creek Historical Society’s all ages and getting attention again,” After launching the planning Kansas is part of a nine-state
museum now plays host each year to he said. “Since the national was process in February for the 2020 cornhusking committee that also
the state contest, said president Jeff canceled (in Kansas), we had pickers event, organizers canceled it in May, includes Iowa, Illinois, Indiana,
Christiansen. from Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa.” along with many fellow state contest Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio
Before the Amanas, the event took He added that the Iowa contest has organizers. “We thought it was best and South Dakota.
place in Kimballton. age divisions “from toddlers to as old “Oakley revived these state contests
This year, 67 competitors took as you can pick.” In fact, this year in 1971,” she said. “In our state, we
saw a 92-year-old contestant. are trying to revive it and getting
Plans are already in the works for some younger people involved. With
the 2021 Iowa contest, which will be the year off, I don’t know what that
held Sept. 11, the traditional second
HUSKING, continued on page 9C

Jim Stuart and his team of Belgians at this year's Iowa State Corn Husking Competition in Hastings. Contributed photo

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COUNTRY CONNECTION
Continued from page 6C old threshing steam engines were used
on site to keep the water hot for coffee. 1940 champions
In the end, Irvin Bauman, a 27-year- Fresh city water, trucked in by wagons,
old farmer from Eureka, Ill., would was served from makeshift water
emerge as the winner and land himself fountains.
in the record books. The event also was unique in that
Bauman, who had been a crowd it included the first Farm Automobile
favorite, was expected by some reports Show. A horse show featured Scott
to place third. Instead, he husked 46.71 County’s Roy Curtis and his 20-horse
bushels of corn and not only beat hitch. Cleveland Indians’ pitcher Bob
out the favorite, Iowa’s Marion Link, Feller, as well as Wilbur Shaw, a three-
but smashed the previous national time champion of the Indianapolis
record set in 1935 by Elmer Carlson of 500, and 1939 national cornhusking
Audubon, Iowa. champ Lawrence “Slim” Pitzer, all
He reportedly brought in a load of made special appearances. Feller
3,550 pounds, but lost 89.1 pounds for and Secretary of Agriculture Mark
the corn left in the field. Thornburg served as the contest’s
Bauman told a newspaper reporter official starters.
that he won by being “cool in this The fun even extended to downtown
contest.” Davenport, where a Halloween
“The other two times I was nervous Jamboree was held one evening for area
in the national contests and tried to residents and visitors.
pick too fast at the start,” Bauman said. The Davenport contest also had the
“This time I worked at a steady pace distinction of hosting the first-ever
and didn’t worry even when I saw that International Plowing Contest. It was
Link had made the turn at the far end held on Oct. 29 on a 40-acre field owned
of the field ahead of me. I figured if I by Charley Dengler. Located six miles 1940 Cornhusking champ, Irvin
picked steady and clean I would make northwest of Davenport, adjoining the Bauman, 27, of Eureka, Ill., accepts
the best score possible for me – and if Keppy farm, the site sits along what his prize from Art Thompson, general 1940 plowing contest champion, Fred
anybody could beat me, let them do it.” today is Northwest Boulevard.
Having competed on the No. 13 plot manager of the National Corn Derby. Timber, 33, of Ontario, Canada.
The contest was won by an
of land and with No. 13 wagon, Bauman international entrant – Fred Timber,
told The Register, “You can’t tell me that 33, of Stouffville, Ontario, Canada.
The 1940 cornhusking champion was Irvin Bauman, 27, of Eureka, Ill., with 46.7
there is anything unlucky about No. Contestants, who used tractor drawn bushels. He not only beat the favored winner, Iowa’s Marion Link, but smashed the
13.” plows, were judged on the quality of previous record of 41.5 bushels set by Elmer Carlson of Audubon, Iowa. A then
Despite his win, Bauman was not their plowing. Speed was not a factor. 22-year-old Bauman took second in 1935 to Carlson in Indiana.
the day’s only record breaker. Five In all, five contestants beat Carlson’s longstanding record. The others were: Marion
contestants beat Carlson’s longstanding Action up close Link, Ames, Iowa, second place; Ivyl Carlson, Madrid, Iowa, third; Lawrence House,
record. The others were: Marion Link, In promoting the event beforehand, Kansas, fourth; and Ecus Vaughn, Illinois, fifth.
Ames, second place; Ivyl Carlson, Wallace’s Farmer and Iowa Homestead Fred Timber, 33, of Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, claimed victory in the first-ever
Madrid, Iowa, third; Lawrence House, proclaimed in a headline, “You’ll Really
Kansas, fourth; and Ecus Vaughn, International Plowing Contest held on a 40-acre farm northwest of Davenport. Today,
See This Show!”
Illinois, fifth. “People are going to be able to watch Farm & Fleet and Love’s truckstop occupy the plowing contest grounds.
For his win, Bauman received a $100 every husker at close range,” the
check and a silver trophy. newsprint publication reported. “They
will not have to stretch their necks
Other sights to see around the end of the wagon nor strain
In addition to the signature their eyes through the entire width of
cornhusking event, spectators moved the land.”
about the rural fields over four But for the first time, the competition
days marveling at displays of farm corn rows were fenced in to keep
equipment, including International spectators out and “split so the wagon
Harvester’s new models of Farmall and rig will pass up the center and the
McCormick-Deering machines. The husker can be out next to the crowd.”
Corn Tent included Iowa State College’s Despite dozens of guards along each
popular display on the history and uses contestant’s corn plot, the crowds broke
of corn. through for a better view.
Visitors snacked on delicious “There were so many people around
homemade fare and tasty desserts sold them trying to get to the guy who was
in tents by scores of women and girls doing the best,” Glen Keppy said. “A lot
from local township 4-H chapters as Specators make their way to the corn husking field.
well as civic and church groups. Five Continued on next page

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 October 28-29, 2020 | The North Scott Press of Eldridge, Iowa/Wilton-Durant Advocate News of Wilton, Iowa/West Liberty Index of West Liberty,Iowa 9C

COUNTRY CONNECTION
HUSKING: 'Hard to get other families
Continued from previous page for the North Scott FFA Farm plot
about three years ago.
revved up about cornhusking'
of people ended up stepping on the rows Very proud of their Keppy family Continued from page 7C
of corn,” which could lead a husker to heritage, Glen Keppy, wife Jean, and
file a formal complaint to the judges. Nancy and Ron Meyer have donated will do, but most huskers are older,
In a test of time and precision as well cornhusking memorabilia and history and that’s why so many canceled.
as volume, he said spectators could be a to various local organizations. Millensifer said the events
distraction for the men. The Meyers presented a framed tend to attract the husking
Two generations of Keppy men later newspaper clipping — showing an community because, “It’s hard to
would prove their own skills at a re- aerial photo of the contest — to the get other families revved up about
enactment cornhusking contest held in Walcott Historical Society museum, cornhusking.”
Eldridge in 1970 by the Eldridge Lions which opened in 2018. She is hopeful that having the state
Club and Eldridge Jaycees. Glen Keppy But Nancy still keeps a few treasures and national contest back in Oakley
and his father, Roy, took first place close in their new home in Eldridge. next year will create more excitement.
in the Junior and Senior divisions, The oldest of Charlie Keppy’s After scouting out the 2019 national
respectively, while Ralph Keppy took daughters, she cannot part with an contest in Nebraska, Millensifer was Jeff Christiansen's daughters Skie and
second place in the senior division and old rusty “take-up wheel.” It was one expecting more than 100 contestants
his son Merle won third place in the
Tia and granddaughter Kaysen
of the wheels of the corn planter her in the national and as many as 50 for
junior division. grandfather and father used in planting the Kansas contest.
the contest corn plot. The 2021 contest will be the eighth tentative, updates will be posted on
The site today time Oakley has hosted the national the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center’s
Just a couple years ago, she also
In 1940, Henry Keppy’s farm spanned became the proud owner of a piece meet and mark the event center’s website beginning June 15, 2021.
160 acres including the 60-acre contest of memorabilia from the day. One of ninth anniversary. The first national For more information, contact the
plot. He also owned an additional 200 her daughter’s friends (Shelley Wells hosted by Oakley was in 1975 at the center at 785-671-1000 or visit www.
other acres. McGarry) gifted her a red metal teapot- Rodger Hockersmith Farm. Local buffalobilloakley.org or the center’s
Today, the now 147-acre farm — shaped plaque bearing the National supporters fundraised and built a Facebook page.
where the contest was held — is owned Cornhusker Contest name and a tiny monumental bronze statue of Buffalo For updates on the Iowa State Corn
by the Charlie Keppy LLC. It is a thermometer. Bill Cody in 2004 and built the event Husking Competition, visit Indian
corporation including the Meyers, the It likely was one of the many center in 2012. Creek Museum in Hastings website or
other Keppy sisters and a brother-in- souvenirs sold, along with pennants, While the schedule now is www.cornhusking.com.
law. The farm began renting 40 acres tea towels and potholders, Meyer said.
“I started crying when she gave it to
Nancy me.”
Meyer Meyer, who moved off the celebrated
cherishes a farm 58 years ago (her father lived his
red teapot whole life there), recalled how she was
keepsake just 5 when Grandpa Henry died and 13
from the when her grandmother died.
1940 event “But I knew from when I was a little
on her girl, probably 6, that this was a pretty
grandad's important thing that happened on the
farm. farm. It was a big thing for the Keppy
family,” she said.

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