Record participation in Jackson County Farm Bureau’s 13th annual Cornhole for Hunger tournament teed up a major haul to benefit local families in need. More than $10,000 in proceeds will help the county Farm Bureau stock area food pantries with protein by underwriting the purchase of livestock auctioned at the concurrent county fair.
The same covered arena that saw showmanship judging earlier the same morning, Aug. 8, sheltered almost 60 two-player teams and the continuous volley of dusty beanbags hurtling through thick air heated by August and perfumed by livestock.
“This is our biggest year by far,” said Janelle Walworth, administrative manager for the Jackson County Farm Bureau, noting the 57 teams that had registered, paid and showed up ready to throw down (or across.)
“We bought 12 hogs at last night’s 4-H livestock auction,” Walworth added, admitting they’d maxed their budgeted amount in the best possible way. “We’ll have those processed locally and donate the meat to all our local food banks.”
Since its inception the event has raised almost $57,000 to fight food insecurity in Jackson County, buying 64 fair animals and donating more than 9,500 pounds of meat to area food banks.
I was just there to pitch in however I could, helping out a county Farm Bureau still missing their touchstone, South Regional Manager Kim Kerr, who retired recently after 42 years on the job — MFB’s longest-tenured field staffer.
It’s partly owing to Kerr’s steady influence that the event went off seamlessly without him — but more so Walworth’s command and that of a lean crew of volunteers with a special relationship to the event itself.
Turns out I’d stepped into the same crew who started this event 13 years ago: a who’s-who of local Farm Bureau leaders who together embody a textbook lesson in keeping Young Farmers actively involved and flexing that program's leadership-development lessons: Jackie Sanford and her county-president hubby, Chris. State Promotion & Education Chair Alysa Sanford. Past-president and emcee Luke Thorne and his wife Amanda. Bracket-scoring whiz Erin Reinker and board member Becky Heim.
That’s a lot of talent in one place, humming like a well-oiled team, in the zone and running on muscle memory. Much of the time I was just trying to stay out of their way!
Placards at the registration table listed all six rules of play and thanked the sponsors whose contributions were bolstered by the county Farm Bureau, an Agent Charitable Fund grant and county fair matching funds from MFB.
I manned the t-shirt table and helped fetch the pizzas. After doling out slices to scores of hungry cornholers, the competition was already winding down. Before I knew it winning duos were making off with their prizes and it was time to pack up.
Hours earlier Jackson board member Matt Reinker and I had set up all eight sets of boards, measuring off each 27-foot gap (20 for the juniors) with careful precision. With everyone pitching in at the end, I buttoned up one set, turned around and they were all gone — neatly stacked and waiting their turn in the bed of Matt’s truck.
Minutes later he pulled away and you’d have never known we were even there. The veterans from 13 years ago made for the gates or dispersed into the fair before I could so much as praise their unity and thank them for having me along for the ride.
As we headed for the main north gate, I took the opportunity to compliment Janelle on a well-run event: organized, simple, just the right number of helpers.
“That was textbook, Janelle — simple, short and sweet — everyone had well-defined roles, nobody’s put-upon or burdened. Well done. And thank you for having me. That was just plain fun!”
('Have fun' was rule #6. Check.)
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