"Farm, Sweet Farm" 80th Anniversary of the Jewell Corn Show

This weekend is the 80th Anniversary of the Jewell Corn Show! The first show, called “The Jewell County Corn Show,” was held on Nov. 21, 1942. The 1943 event, as well as the following ones, was simply the “Jewell Corn Show.”

This year’s event is called “Farm, Sweet Farm” in honor of the farm roots of the event and the farmers that form the basis of thecommunity’s economy. The theme gave rise to the idea that the grand marshal of the parade would be symbolic and honor all area farmers.

Back in 1942, the activities centered around corn and lasted one day. It seems the impetus for the first celebration, as cited in the Jewell County Republican, was “the best corn crop” seen in Jewell County for years.      

The first organizers, A. L. Berry and Claude Reynolds, planned a single day of events. The activities were to take place at the high school on Saturday. Exhibits of corn and a few other crops were to put up and judged in the morning with prizes awarded in the afternoon.

Crowning of the corn queen took place in the afternoon. The queen was elected by the vote of people who shopped in the stores in Jewell. Every ten-cent purchase was worth one vote. Miss Mary Roach was elected the 1942 corn queen.

From those beginnings, the Jewell Corn Show has grown to four days of events sponsored by the Jewell Chamber of Commerce. Deb Bohnert and Gaye Daniels co-chair the committee in charge of making everything happen. They are the first to say they “couldn’t do it” without all the volunteers working in all capacities to pull off “The Show.”

“Farm, Sweet Farm” begins on Thursday morning, with exhibits and booths being set up from 8 to 11 a.m. in the Jewell Community Center.  Then something new – the Mayor’s Cookie Jar Contest will be judged at 11 a.m. Cookie bakers will have baked their specialties and filled a decorated cookie jar. This is a new event for 2022. 

The cookie jars and all booths and exhibits will have been judged and then be on display from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Jewell Community Center. Those exhibits may also be viewed from 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Friday evening more fun at 6 p.m. with the “Pair-A-Dice” Ride. It is for golf carts, ATV’s and lawn mowers. Just cruise Jewell trying for the best roll of the dice.  

If you are hungry on Friday evening, stop by LeRoy’s Lofts for Bourbon’s Bierocks, cheeseburger meals or hot ham and cheese meals. Enjoy the meals from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. - then rest up for all the Saturday events.

All day on Saturday, search for stars in Maag Park. A prize if you find one. 

Put your running or walking shoes on or get out your bike for the 5K Jewell Corn Show Stampede. The competition starts at 8 a.m. in front of the Guaranty State Bank.

If walking, biking and running aren’t for you, be at the Jewell Community Center for the Jewell Health Department’s flu shots. They will be available (bring your Medicare or Insurance card) from 8 a.m. to noon.

If cars, motorcycles and antique farm machinery are your thing, make sure to head to the west side of the park for the ninth annual “Show Off Your Wheels.”  This starts a 9 a.m. or after the 10:30 a.m., parade if you are a parade entrant. Stop by any time before 3 p.m.

Also starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday there will be vendors in downtown Jewell. Shop, enjoy and visit with friends until 2:30 p.m.

A highlight of the “Farm, Sweet Farm” Corn Show will be the parade.  The Children’s Parade starts at 10:15 a.m. Line up at the corner of Custer and Delaware streets.

The rest of the parade follows at 10:30 a.m. after lining up around the old high school. Enjoy the parade then move on over the fire station for a barbecue.

A couple of things start at 12 noon, the kid’s games in Maag Park and a cornhole tournament. The games are in the south and center of the park with the cornhole tournament on the north side.

Another popular event is the 3:30 p.m. Road Rally (entry fee $10 but there is prize money!)  If you aren’t following directions in your vehicle, just stop at LeRoy’s Lofts for a hamburger meal. Enjoy meals from 5 to 8 p.m. 

The annual Corn Show Program is at 7 p.m. in the community center. Ice cream is to be served.  Free will donation, please.

The final Saturday event is the street dance. North of Maag Park, dance to the DJ Bridwell Band from 8 p.m. to midnight. 

Sunday, “Farm, Sweet Farm” winds down.  From 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., there will be a soup dinner at the Jewell Community Center. (Free will donation). The final event of “Farm, Sweet Farm” is a trap shoot at the Jewell Gun Club. The shoot will begin at 1 p.m. and has a $6 fee.

Then it will be over for another year.  So, enjoy “Farm, Sweet Farm.”  The 80th edition of the Jewell Corn Show – it has something for everyone.