In the town of Taber, corn is as good as gold.
“Corn is a big hit here,” said farmer Carolyn Johnson. “We sell a lot of corn.”
For decades, Taber has been synonymous with excellent tasting corn.
“We have a really ideal growing area,” Johnson explained. “The soil is well suited for corn.”
Aided by an ample supply of sunshine, farmers in southern Alberta work hard every spring through fall to keep up with demand regardless of any road blocks Mother Nature throws their way. This year it was cooler temperatures and a wet summer.
“The corn is still coming and obviously we’ve got corn but it didn’t come as fast this year,” Johnson said.
Customers come from all over to get their hands on Taber corn.
“We can go through anywhere from 1,000 to 2,500 four-dozen sacks a day,” Johnson said.
To celebrate and promote the unique grain, the town of Taber dedicates a whole weekend to the golden food. This year, people as far as the United States made the trip to Taber to celebrate Cornfest.
Many make the trip to Taber to enjoy the corn but there are some who come down to eat it as sport.
“In Taber, we have a fellow by the name of Dave Klassen who is the world corn-eating champion,” Taber Cornfest chair, Mark Garner, said. “Last year he downed 11 pieces of corn in two minutes.”
Klassen has proudly held the world corn-eating title for three years, and said he came upon his talent by fluke.
“One day I just thought it would be fun to go up there and try to beat everyone else, and every year has been the same.”
What’s Klassen’s secret for remaining the reigning corn eating champion?
“You’ve got to eat super fast and wash it down with water.”
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