The Youth Tall Corn contest at the Washington County Fair was a hit again this year. 

A new record was set for participants with 20 entries from 12 different families and 10 different clubs or FFA Chapters represented. 

This year’s Grand Champion was Tessa Bombei with a stalk that measured 16’4”, which was just 4” short of last year’s record. Reserve Champion was awarded to Taya Bombei with a stalk measuring 15’ 5 3/8”. 

The corn stalks are on display west of the Lions Club stage and are labeled with the exhibitors names and stalk heights. Tessa Bombei took home an honorary plaque and $100 as a prize for her tall corn stalk. 

Iowa has been known as the tall corn state since the 1940s when Don Radda of Washington, set the world record in 1946 with a corn stalk that grew 30 feet and 7/8ths inch tall. A statue replica of this corn stalk can be found next to Dallmeyer Hall on the fairgrounds.