Submitted
OAKLEY — The Buffalo Bill Cultural Center invites all of Kansas to come out and enjoy Oakley’s 43rd annual cornhusking contest and festival and be part of a public television program about how Oakley celebrates and shares the heritage of hand husking each year with a contest and festival that showcases the town.
The festival kicks off downtown Center Avenue on Friday with the VIP Corn Cook-Off. Look for the Hometown Team VIP Corn Cook-Off sticker in business windows and come on in and taste and vote for your favorite from 11 am to 1 p.m.
Friday afternoon huskers from all over the state are welcomed as they get into town and register at the BBCC for Saturday’s contest. The reception begins at 3 p.m. Kansans of any age can enter the contest. If you have never shucked corn before, now’s the time to learn.
There will be cornhusking training in the field on Friday beginning at 4 p.m. Veteran huskers will teach new novice huskers the husking technique. Huskers can enter in individual and three person team contest classes. This year, the challenge was issued locally to the John Deere (American Implement) and Case IH (Oakley AG) dealers in Oakley and they have both accepted the challenge to husk off toe to toe in the field. Business, school, group and family teams are invited to participate.
On Saturday, the Kansas State Cornhusking Contest takes place in the cornfield next to the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center. The contest begins at 8:30 a.m. The whole family will enjoy the contest and all the festivities throughout the day. There will be old time tractors and engines on display. Everyone can compete in the corn toss and kids dig for money in the corn pile money dig. And, don’t forget to enter your pumpkin in the Biggest and Oddest contest. A $5 entry free gets you an entry for one or both contests.
Weavers BBQ will have a great selection of barbecue for sale.
Inside the center are Rural Life Demonstrations. See how fleece is prepared and dyed, learn how to make a corn doll or a wheat star. Kids 5-12 can take part in the pumpkin decorating contest. After the contest, the winning huskers in each class are recognized at the Huskers Awards Banquet hosted at the Colonial Steak House.
Admission to the festival is free. Contest registration fee is $18 and includes a ticket to the Saturday evening awards banquet. Exhibition three person teams who do not want to register individually in a competitive class, register for free.
If you have questions about the contest or festival events, or would like to register for the contest, contact Kylee or Laurie at (785) 671-1000.
The Buffalo Bill Cultural Center is located at 3083 U.S. 83 — 4 miles south of Interstate 70 at the Oakley exit.
For more information about the contest or festival, click HERE.
visit http://discoveroakley.com/visitors/events/kansas-state-cornhusking-contest.