Carroll County Centennial Farms Dominate Corn Contest Winners

By Gretchen Wallander

Nick Smith at Steve and Jane Smith's farm next to the large ear of corn carved into a tree trunk in rural Milledgeville. Nick is their grandson, and was the winner of the Largest Ear Contest.

Irv and Pat Morris Zier, winners of the Tallest Corn Contest at the Lanark United Methodist Church on October 11, 2009.

(Photos courtesy of Gretchen Wallander)

In the spirit of a bountiful harvest, women of the Lanark United Methodist Church challenged our community to show us the tallest stalk and the biggest ear of corn. In the midst of snow flurries, some hearty farmers delivered their best!

The blue ribbon winners were grown on Illinois Centennial Farms. These participating farm families have more than 655 years of farming in Carroll County.

The blue ribbon for the TALLEST CORN was a Hughes #7383, stretching up 14' 11.75" and submitted by the Morris Farm, Irv and Patricia Morris Zier, Chadwick. The Morris Farm, purchased in 1859 by John, continued with George, John K., Patricia Morris Zier, and has been a working farm for 150 years.

For the BIGGEST EAR of corn, the blue ribbon was captured by Nick Smith, Smith Farming Corporation, Milledgeville with a DeKalb #6342 weighing 1 lb. 1.5 oz. The Keeney-Smith Centennial Farm (1866), purchased by William Keeney has been farmed by Oscar Mott, Ray Mott, James Keeney/Merle and Grace (Keeney) Smith, Steve and Jane Smith, and Brad Smith (father of Nick). The paternal branch of Smith families farming in Carroll County includes Washington William, Albert, Allen, Wilmer, Steve, and Brad. Nick (6 years) is the up and coming 7th generation.

Entries from Erbacres Holsteins, Lanark, were Connor Erbsen, (10 years) with Hughes #7383 and Payton Erbsen, (8 years) with Wyfells #5281 and DeKalb #5243. These young men are the 4th generation to farm in 80+ years, following Paul and Blanche Diffenderfer/ Theodore Erbsen, Kenneth/Pauline (Diffenderfer) Erbsen, John Erbsen and Kevin and Wendy (Schilter) Erbsen. Payton is also the 10th generation of the Schilter family dairy farmers originally from Switzerland; the last four generations have farmed in America.

Some other entries included Lester and Lila Miche, Pearl City, farming 50+ years and entering a Livingston Company Ornamental "Autumn Rainbow"; Bill Spoerlein, Lanark with Crow's #3848, farming with his father George who came to Carroll County 30 years ago; Ludwig Farms, Linda Ludwig, a Pioneer hybrid, 60 years farming in Carroll County; and Lamoreux Farms, Dan Lamoreux, a Hughes #7383, grown on the Centennial farm purchased by John in 1867, followed by Edwin, Russell, John and Louis, and Dan and Nathan as 5th generation farmers here in 142 years.

One rogue entry from Jeff Hoak, Hoak's (hoax) Plantation was the Fraud Stalk #2009. With a little duct tape it reached 20' 10.75".

We thank all participants for sharing their "Bounty of Autumn Blessings" and for some laughter in the midst of a difficult harvest season. The busy squirrels on Locust Street are taste-testing and stashing the entries. Participant fees were donated to the Shannon-Lanark Food Pantry. May God bless all area farmers with a safe and bountiful harvest.

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