I am absolutely aMAIZED that you knew I was going to talk about corn this week.
KIDS LOVE IT
SQUIRRELS LOVE IT
DOGS LOVE IT
Corn started from a wild grass called teosinte, originally growing in Central America about 7000 years ago. Native Americans in North and South America called it mahiz (maize) and depended upon this crop for much of their food. Corn was one of the three sustainers, the "three sisters" of maize, beans, and squash. All parts of the corn plant were used, and the husks were woven into clothing, moccasins, sleeping mats, baskets, and children’s toys. Corncobs were used for fuel, to make darts for a game, and were tied onto a stick to make a rattle for ceremonies.
Europeans did not know that corn existed before Columbus brought it back to Spain after he traveled to North and South America. The Portuguese introduced it to East Africa and Asia, and from there it arrived in India and China through established trade routes. It was flourishing in China in the 18th century and reached Korea and Japan soon after. Corn is now one of the most widely grown vegetables on Earth, especially in the Americas. The United States and China lead world production.
Most of the corn grown in the U.S. and Canada is used as animal feed. There are three major types of corn, the favorite being sweet corn, which is named because of its high sugar content. Dent corn, or field corn, is used for livestock feed and industrial products such as ink, glue, laundry starch, shoe polish, medicines, fabrics, and cosmetics. Flint corn, or Indian corn, is primarily grown in Central and South America.A variety of flint corn is used to make popcorn!
Farmers grow corn on every continent except Antarctica.
One bushel of corn will sweeten more than 400 cans of Coca-Cola.
There are about 800 kernels in 16 rows on each ear of corn.
A pound of corn consists of approximately 1,300 kernels.
The corncob (ear) is actually part of the corn plant’s flower.
The main ingredient in most dry pet food is corn.
Corn is used to produce fuel alcohol. Fuel alcohol makes gasoline burn cleaner, reducing air pollution, and it doesn't pollute the water.
Corn is a major component in many food items like cereals, peanut butter, snack foodsand soft drinks.
You may think the World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, is corny - and it is! The original CornPalace, called The Corn Belt Exposition, was established in 1892. Early settlers displayed the fruits of their harvest on the building exterior in order to prove the fertility of South Dakota soil. As the population and popularity grew, a third and present building was completed in 1921. Every year, a theme is chosen for the exterior by the city’s Corn Palace Festival Board and the murals are designed by a local artist. After the murals are sketched, they are transferred onto giant rolls of tar paper and then tacked up. Then, ears of corn are nailed into place using the transferred designs for guidance – sort of like painting by numbers. The corn is grown by local farmer Wade Strand. He plants 40-50 acres with various varieties of seed to produce different colors of corn. The interior corn murals, which adorn the walls of the CornPalace’s auditorium, are changed about every 10 years.
This costs the city of Mitchell about $130,000 per year to decorate the city-owned structure. Fortunately, there are about 200,000 visitors during tourist season. During the winter, the auditorium is used for various community activities, including basketball games played by local high schools and colleges. Current NBA star Mike Miller, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, played his home games at the CornPalace for the Mitchell High School Kernels.
The Corn Palace Festival is held every August – don’t miss it this year, August 23- August 28. Loretta Lynn will be playing in concert August 23, and Josh Turner with The Band Perry will be playing August 24! Recent headliners have included Willie Nelson, Tom Jones, and Big & Rich. Lawrence Welk and his Band were the special stars for a number of years in the 50s and 60s. Past entertainers have included John Philip Sousa, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and Tennessee Ernie Ford. The CornPalace has held a number of political rallies, including Theodore Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryan, William Howard Taft, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy and, in the summer of 2008, Barack Obama. Mitchell native and resident George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, shared the stage with both Kennedys and Obama when they visited.
It's probably corny to watch a video with Yosemite Sam, who likes to say "Sufferin' Succotash" which is a mixture of corn and lima beans (sometimes with tomatoes and green or red peppers), but shucks, let's do it!
