The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Rod Martin and Laurel Hennenfent
Take First Place
Cornhuskers from the State of Illinois fared well at the National Corn Husking Contest held in Columbus, Nebraska on Sunday, October 22, 2006.
Rod Martin of rural Biggsville, won the Men's 21 to 49 class.
Laurel Hennenfent of Roseville, won the Women's 21 to 49 class.
Martin picked a gross load of 321 pounds in 20 minutes and a net load of 305.16 pounds after deductions for husks and gleanings.
Hennenfent had no deductions for gleanings and a deduction of 7.71 pounds of husks for a net load of 249.29 pounds. Hennenfent also picked for 20 minutes.
Nancy Miller of Mansfield, placed second in the Women's Open, and Frank Hennenfent of Roseville, placed second in the Men's Open. Hennenfent picked 528.50 pounds of corn in 30 minutes and lost to the champion, Mitchell Burns of Missouri, by less than four pounds.
Miller picked 259.47 pounds in 30 minutes.
The Illinois huskers earned enough points to tie with the huskers from Nebraska for first place in the overall competition between the states.
107 huskers competed in nine different classes at the National.
Huskers from 13 different states competed including huskers from Maryland and Virginia.
Sara Martin of rural Biggsville, earned a trophy by placing third in the Girl's Youth class.
Other huskers who competed for the Illinois team were April Suter of Avon, Ken Warpinski-Oswego, Jim Bride-Good Hope, Cindy Humes-Little York, Sis Wisebrook-Yorkville, Dick Humes-Little York, Jim Brechbiel-Berwick, Paul Miller -Plainfield, David Endress- Sparland, Jean Freeman-Yorkville, Lisa Warpinski-Oswego and Paul VanArsdale of Media.
The 2007 National will be held in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, on October 21. The National will be held near Roseville, in 2008.
Dick Humes of Little York, is the president of the Illinois State Corn Husking Association.
More information about the state corn husking association, the history of corn husking and the national is available on the website of www.cornhusking.com.
The site includes complete results from the National for 2006 as well as several prior years.