Dozens of corn pickers ready for harvest

RANTOUL, Ill. — A wide range of classic corn picker models will lineup to take their turns through a field on the expansive Rantoul Aviation Center grounds Aug. 26-29 during the Half Century of Progress.

Roger Musson, who is coordinating the ear corn harvesting and combining along with Robert Off, said there is typically 25 to 40 pickers that participate in the every-other-year celebration of farming’s past.

“We do a little of picking ear corn every day during the Half Century of Progress. They then haul it to the corn sheller and either put it on a semi or in corn dryers. We just pick some every day and guys bring all kinds of their own pickers and have different kinds,” Musson said.

The approximately 240 acres of corn are usually planted the end of March, first of April, with an early maturity of around 90 days so that it’s ready for picking by the end of August.

Anyone can show up with a picker to participate. They have to go through a safety meeting to get their badge or ribbon indicating their completion of the program.

“There’s also a cornfield outside of the base where we pick. We pick it beforehand because I don’t want anybody outside the base during the show. If there’s anyone who wants to pick some corn ahead of time, it’s quite a field and we have a good time doing that and not have to worry about crowds,” Musson added.

Corn picker operators attend from through the Midwest and beyond to demonstrate to visitors how the crop was harvested decades ago before the availability of the more efficient combines that roll though fields today.

“It’s very important to see how we used to do it. People today just don’t understand what we went through to get to this point and how hard it was. Some people don’t understand where their food comes from. They just think it comes from the grocery shelf. They don’t know the corn and soybeans come from a field that we harvest. It’s even the same with beef and pork and what it takes to raise an animal,” Musson said.

Corn picking will be held each morning and afternoon throughout the event.