Farmer wins tall corn contest again

For the tenth year in a row, Clarence Anderson of Brighton has entered the Iowa State Fair’s “Tall Corn” contest. And he won again, as he has ten years running. Last year’s champion cornstalk was more than 16 and-a-half feet tall, but this year Anderson’s winning stalks were just over thirteen feet. He says the weather hampered the corn growth this year.Anderson’s retired from farming, but plants the tall corn for fun and because he says it’s excellent animal feed and silage. Will he compete again next year? He says he never knows, but would like to if he’s able.Anderson says about 25 years ago he saw “tall corn” in a Shumway Seed Catalogue, and has been saving the seed from his tallest stalks and planting it every year since.