They say nothing in life is free.

Well, whoever said that should come to Iowa, because we’ve got all the local sweet corn you can eat for ZERO DINERO.

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It’s true – this afternoon Ben and I hit up the Adel Sweet Corn Festival boasting, you guessed it, all you can eat free sweet corn!

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Set in the quintessential, small-town Iowa town square of Adel, Iowa,

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the sweet corn festival celebrates Iowa’s best known crop with a two day festival featuring food, live entertainment, and

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lots,

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and lots,

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of FREE sweet corn!

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Does this happen anywhere else in the country?! ;)

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The freshly shucked sweet corn is steamed, then rolled down a conveyer belt to a holding tank.

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It’s then transferred to serving trough where festival goers line up and request as many ears of corn as they want, as many times as they want. Corn for all!

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After you get your corn, you head to one of the many “seasoning stations” that are setup.

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Each station is well equipped with pump butter, spray butter, spreadable butter, salt & pepper, toothpicks (crucial) and TONS of paper towels.

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I kept it real with some spreadable butter and salt – you really want to let the candy-sweet corn shine through. MMMM!!!!!!

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Fresh from the field!

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Can we eat now?

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Ben and I found a shady spot and assumed the position. Legs spread, body hunched over,

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corn in the center.

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Roll your cobs around for even butter and salt distribution,

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then CHOW!

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omg! Crispy, buttery, salty, SWEET! The best corn you’ll ever have!

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Now, finishing your corn is awful for two reasons. #1: you don’t have any corn left. #2: you have to get creative with a toothpick. Ew.

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Common courtesy says you’ve got to turn your head when picking, too. It’s the right thing to do.

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Privacy please?! Haaaahahahaha.

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We sat for a little while and agreed that, since it’s free, it’s only right to get a few more ears. :D I sent Ben back for the goods.

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He said he was only going to get a couple more ears.

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Explain to me how, then, how he came back with…

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FIVE more ears?! “They kept putting corn on my plate!” he exclaimed. Uhhhh-huh! Riiight. ;)

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Ben put himself into a corn coma at that point.

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HA!

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You know you’re from Iowa when you nearly pass out from eating too much free sweet corn! ;)

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After three ears of corn, I was pretty full – but a $1 bag of kettlecorn was calling my name…so I answered.

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It was pretty much the greatest thing ever.

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Crunchy, salty, sweet – YUM!

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We left Adel in a sweet corn haze, but we’re determined to grill out tonight so we stopped at good ol’ Fareway on the way home to pick up some goods.

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Steaks for him (ok me too,)

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and a movie for her – Remember Me with Robert Pattinson!! Although, it will be weird seeing him play someone other than Edward.

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I’m not quite sure how I convinced Ben to get this, but I’m rolling with it!