August 22, 2024
It’s the time of year so many Minnesotans wait all year long for ... the kick-off to the Great Minnesota Get Together!
For us, the Minnesota State Fair is a 12-day stretch that puts us on pins and needles, because we want to make sure we have enough sweet corn for The Corn Roast each year. Although we have been growing corn for the fair for the past 20+ years, every year brings different challenges, making no two years the same.
Each year, we plant corn in late May and early June while we aim for a 12-day window in late August to early September, hoping we can hit it just right. It’s kind of like a moving target! Some years we hit it, and some years, we are way off, but we try our best.
In reality, no matter how much effort goes into planning, Mother Nature is truly in control. We’ve been doing it long enough that we have a mathematical equation for our planting program, but nonetheless, it doesn’t lessen our stress come these 12 days.
How did Untiedt's start growing corn for the Corn Roast?
Well, before we had The Corn Roast account at the State Fair, Cal’s Market out of Shakopee grew the corn for Brad Ribar, the owner of The Corn Roast.
Cal Chadwick of Cal’s Market happened to be one of Farmer Jerry’s best friends and biggest mentors in his early farming days. Jerry learned a lot of his farming knowledge from Cal. When Cal wasn’t able to fill the orders for the Fair, Jerry would cover Cal. Jerry grew the same varieties of sweet corn as Cal did, so when the call came in that Cal was short corn, it was never a problem to help fill some orders. When the time came for Cal to give up sweet corn farming, a relationship between Jerry and Brad had already been building, so a handoff from Cal to Jerry made sense.
Lots of growers think they want this gig of growing the corn for the State Fair, but when they find out what it entails in terms of quality standards, quantity, the uncertainties that come with weather, and then aiming for a 12-day window, most of them think we are a little bit crazy. Very few corn growers harvest sweet corn by hand anymore, let alone the amount needed daily by the fair. And just think, we pick ALL of our sweet corn by hand all season!
The relationship we have with Brad and The Corn Roast is just that, a relationship. It’s not a contract, but a relationship that was built over time on trust, product quality, and understanding of each other’s businesses. This was some 20+ years ago. You would think we’d have a better idea of time, but all of the years blend together.
Going Strong Three Generations Later
Planting and growing sweet corn has always been Farmer Jerry’s pride and joy. He enjoyed filling the planter with seed, hopping up in the tractor, and driving down the field.
As the years went on, Jerry’s son-in law Paul Nelson began to soak up some of the sweet corn planting knowledge, and then slowly began to take over some of the planting duties. And today, Paul has begun to pass down the planting knowledge to his son Trent.
Most of all, Trent helps with the management of the harvest crews each day, and let’s just say with all the rain this season, it’s been a real challenge.
Three generations working together to make sure the freshest, highest quality, best tasting sweet corn makes its way to the Minnesota State Fair each day. Don’t worry, Farmer Jerry is still right there offering his two cents on what needs to be done differently or what he would do next time.
Why is the State Fair Corn so special?
The corn we grow for the fair is a Mirai type corn that is specifically selected for its large cob size, superb sweet corn flavor profile, thin stalk in the field, and its ability to hold its flavor and size once it has been roasted. The bite is poppy, flavor sweet, and it basically melts in your mouth. And most importantly, like all corn grown on our farm, it is a non-GMO variety that will guarantee you coming backing for more!
So, if you’re headed out to the Great Minnesota Get Together, make sure to stop by The Corn Roast and grab yourself and ear or two of Roasted Sweet Corn! Is it really the fair if you didn’t have roasted corn?
And if you aren’t heading to the State Fair this year, this same great sweet corn is NOW AVAILABLE at all of our Roadside Vegetable Stands and Garden Centers. If you’re looking to freeze sweet corn, now is the perfect time to do so! And while supplies last, you can preorder State Fair Sweet Corn in bulk - a gunny sack of 48 is $35, delivered to an Untiedt's location near you.
