20 Foot Corn In Iowa?

From Left to Right is Cheryl Wissler, Sheila Campbell and Steve Walters as they plant some "20 foot corn" at the Mahaska County Agency on Aging Senior Center

The old saying of knee high by July very well may not apply to this corn variety if the claims of its incredible height prove to be true.

A recent article in “Our Iowa Magazine” challenges the residents of Iowa to grow the tallest cornstalk. Readers of the magazine received a packet with their April/May issue of an imported corn seed from the tropical regions of South America. According to the publication, the tallest grown last year was seventeen feet and nine inches.

The challenge they passed along was to see if some good ol’ Iowa Farmers could help get this variety to grow to twenty foot in height. Steve Walters, local farmer and businessman, bought some of the special seeds. With help from Cheryl Wissler,Mahaska County Agency on Aging Senior Center Site Manager, and Sheila Campbell, Steve planted the first row of corn to be shared at the center. Local residents will be able to track the progress of the corn growth, and it’s hoped that seeing the super fast growing and tall corn will bring back memories and spark conversation among those older Oskaloosa residents that come to eat and socialize.

If your interested in buying the seed, the “Our Iowa Magazine” appears to still have them available, you can visit their page HERE.