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.
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!
Set in the quintessential, small-town Iowa town square of Adel, Iowa,
the sweet corn festival celebrates Iowa’s best known crop with a two day festival featuring food, live entertainment, and
lots,
and lots,
of FREE sweet corn!
Does this happen anywhere else in the country?! ;)
The freshly shucked sweet corn is steamed, then rolled down a conveyer belt to a holding tank.
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!
After you get your corn, you head to one of the many “seasoning stations” that are setup.
Each station is well equipped with pump butter, spray butter, spreadable butter, salt & pepper, toothpicks (crucial) and TONS of paper towels.
I kept it real with some spreadable butter and salt – you really want to let the candy-sweet corn shine through. MMMM!!!!!!
Fresh from the field!
Can we eat now?
Ben and I found a shady spot and assumed the position. Legs spread, body hunched over,
corn in the center.
Roll your cobs around for even butter and salt distribution,
then CHOW!
omg! Crispy, buttery, salty, SWEET! The best corn you’ll ever have!
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.
Common courtesy says you’ve got to turn your head when picking, too. It’s the right thing to do.
Privacy please?! Haaaahahahaha.
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.
He said he was only going to get a couple more ears.
Explain to me how, then, how he came back with…
FIVE more ears?! “They kept putting corn on my plate!” he exclaimed. Uhhhh-huh! Riiight. ;)
Ben put himself into a corn coma at that point.
HA!
You know you’re from Iowa when you nearly pass out from eating too much free sweet corn! ;)
After three ears of corn, I was pretty full – but a $1 bag of kettlecorn was calling my name…so I answered.
It was pretty much the greatest thing ever.
Crunchy, salty, sweet – YUM!
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.
Steaks for him (ok me too,)
and a movie for her – Remember Me with Robert Pattinson!! Although, it will be weird seeing him play someone other than Edward.
I’m not quite sure how I convinced Ben to get this, but I’m rolling with it!
Erin 08.14.2010
THAT’S AWESOME! What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! <3
Megan A 08.14.2010
The sweet corn looks amazing!! I live right here in WDM and I have never been:(. You will have to let me know what you think of the movie. I was a little dissappointed by the ending but it was still good. After all, R Pat looks pretty amazing in it:)
Lauren 08.14.2010
There are two things I think of when I think of Iowa, Potatoes and Corn. I only imagine these two are incredible for you guys. And doesn’t everything taste so much better when it’s free? :)
Have fun picking those kernels from your teeth all night. ;) And enjoy the movie.
Steve 08.16.2010
Sorry, but potatoes is Idaho, not Iowa.
anna 03.21.2011
common misconception. Idaho is like 25 hours away, though. lol ;)
elizabethlacy 08.14.2010
Urbana, IL has their Sweet Corn Festival towards the end of August. It sounds similar to yours with games and music and CORN. Except the corn is not free (and it’s not local which saddens me as I often run through areas with cornfields on both sides). If we had it earlier in the summer we could have the local super sweet corn though! Yours wins. :D
Jessica 08.14.2010
I’m in Eastern Iowa and they have similar free corn days around here too :) Gotta love Iowa!
Katie@ Two Lives, One Lifestyle 08.14.2010
Mmm I love corn on the cob. There is a lot growing here in Upstate NY but I don’t think they are giving it away for free! I just drove through Iowa and I can see where they might come up with some free cobs from ;)
Kristin 08.14.2010
I’ve never been and even lived there last year. I really need to go there next year. I did pick up a 1/2 doz though to get my buttery sweet corn fix this weekend :)
Molly 08.14.2010
Oooo good sweetcorn, good company, good day, and a GREAT movie choice! Enjoy the evening!
Nicole 08.14.2010
I live in Adel! LOVE LOVE LOVE Sweet Corn Festival, but have NEVER gotten corn…line is too long for me!!!!
kristastes 08.14.2010
MMmmmm Iowa corn and Jersey corn, both deliciousness to the max! :)
Julie 08.14.2010
You will have to let me know if you like that movie….I didn’t :( But hopefully you will enjoy it.
Sara 08.14.2010
This post made me want to go to Iowa! They give you free corn!? :)
Nancy 08.14.2010
I freaking LOVE corn on the cob but rarely buy it because the Boyf doesn’t like it. I mean, c’mon why not right?
FREE CORN? I think I would die and go to heaven. We don’t have anything like that here in Ontario (Canada)…. oh my cheeks are salivating just thinking of it.
Tweets that mention You Know You’re From Iowa When… | Iowa Girl Eats -- Topsy.com 08.14.2010
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kristin, faithfamilyfibro. faithfamilyfibro said: RT @iowagirleats: U Know You’re From IA When… http://tinyurl.com/29uoapm //Absolutely..I luv ths time of year in IA 4 the corn not the heat! […]
Lizzy @ LBBakes 08.14.2010
Summer in Iowa sounds like so much fun! :)
Renee 08.14.2010
limes springs iowa is having their sweet corn days this weekend also :) gotta love free sweet corn!!! although- theirs is way more amazing looking than limes springs …
sharon weaver 08.14.2010
I’ve been to Adel for this a long time ago. What a beautiul little town and oh, the corn is great too.
Lynne 08.14.2010
OH MY GOD! My brother and his girlfriend live just outside of Adel! My cousin was at this event too! I grew up in Grimes (neighborhood called “Day’s Run” was once our farm). Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Now I’m going to get some Colorado corn!
Cate 08.14.2010
Apparently DSM is more awesome than the Iowa City area, because I’ve never witnessed anything like that! I’m dying for some sweet corn now…
Cassie 08.14.2010
You REALLY make me want to take a vacation to Iowa!! Who knew?!