Heidbreder, Hellman take Sweet Corn festival crowns

WEST POINT – The ears are bigger than ever at this year’s West Point Sweet Corn Festival.
More than 17 tons of the buttery summer snack were shucked Wednesday night behind Merschman Seeds facilities.
Merschman annually commissions the purchase of the sweet corn that came from Savanna, Illinois this year.
Lee County Bank had the shuckers’ backs with burgers and hot dogs and free beer. The incentive pushed a record shuck that was delayed just a bit by some sprinkles, to less than two hours.
The carnival and events opened Thursday with the crowning of the Sweet Corn Festival Queen and Princess on the Pilot Grove Stage on Main Street on the east side of the city square.
Kynslee Heidbreder, daughter of Amy and Josh Myers, was named the 2023 Sweet Corn Festival Princess after telling the crowd she loved the Sweet Corn Festival. The runner-up was Eleanor Schmitt, daughter of Ben and Ashley Schmitt.
Jenna Hellman, daughter of John and Sheryll Hellman, was named the Festival Queen taking the tiara from 2022 Queen Mya Lampe as West Point Mayor Joseph Loving MC'd the event. Teagan Snaadt, daughter of Andy and Stacy Snaadt was first runner-up.
The Iowa Pork Producers provided a Thursday night pork loin meal and  the rest of the weekend was barbecue chicken dinners with sides and the coveted sweet corn in the middle of the rides and fares of the annual carnival on the square.
Saturday featured the annual 5K run, Pee-Wee drag races, and a horseshoe tournament northeast of the square. Musical entertainment wrapped up the night’s events on the Pilot Grove Stage.
The noon parade kicks off on the square on Sunday followed by junior water fights, a cornhole bags tournament and a mini garden tractor pull. The Fort Madison High School band hosted Bingo on the basketball court in the park each day of the festival.