Lions, FFA sponsored corn and bean contests

July 16, 2022 admin COMMUNITY 0

Featured on this page are pictures of two groups of contestants in the Master Corn and Soybean Growers Contests – from 1967 and 1978.

The contests were co-sponsored for many years by the Montezuma Lions Club and the Montezuma FFA. Each year in spring of the following year the contestants were dinner guests at a meeting of the Lions club, at which time results were announced and pins and certificates were presented.

CONTESTANTS IN THE 1967 Master Corn Growers Contest co-sponsored by the Lions and FFA were guests in March 1968 at the Lions club’s meeting at the Country Club. Project Chairman Ron Sheetz, at far right above, announced the results. He related that the 1,665 state entries were the most ever in the 30 years of the contest. Sheetz is the FFA Advisor and is also a Lion. Pictured with Sheetz are, from left, in front: Loren Roorda, Robert “Bob” Haworth and Stuart Fleming. In back are Jim Hansen, LeRoy Sterk and Bernie Hansen.

The results provided useful information for farmers about their harvested test plots and how they compared with others.

Corn Contest Results

Local winner for 1967 with a yield of 137.25 bushels per acre was Cloyd Carl, not pictured. Those pictured and their order of placing were Bernie Hansen, 135.63 bu.; Loren Roorda, 126 bu.; LeRoy Sterk, 124 bu.; Jim Hansen, 110 bu.; Wally Mathes (not pictured) 109 bu.; Stuart Fleming 107 bu.; and Bob Haworth, 87 bushels per acre. State winner was Francis Childs of Delaware Co. with a 196.78 bu. yield.

Carroll Smith won the 1978 corn growers competition with a yield of 169.45 bushels per acre.

Other contestants and their yields were, in order following Smith: Bruce Roorda, 163.10; Jack and Sons, 162.53; Ken Smith, 159.42; Lynn Carl, 157.35; Robert Haworth, 156.56; John McNaul, 155.34; Kevin Rempp, 153.76; Loren Roorda, 152.61; Frank Helm, 152.25; Jerry Little, 149.04; Steele Brothers, 147.91; Raymond Tarvin, 144.73; Robert Widmer, 142.29; Eugene Merck, 140.99; Roy James, 137.43; Steve VeVerka, 136.81; Bill Rempp, 135.72; Jim Creswell, 130.30; Jim Smothers, 121.01.

The average yield among Montezuma contestant fields was 147.99 bushels. The state corn winner was from Logan with a 205.15 bu. yield.

Bean Contest Results

Individual contestant yield information for the 1967 soybean contest was not found. Following are results for the 1978 soybean contest. Lynn Carl had the high yielding test plot with 56.67 bushels per acre. He was followed by Carrolll Smith, 54.22; Frank Helm, 51.36; Robert Haworth, 46.98; Roy James, 46.32; Loren Roorda, 45.84; Bill Rempp, 45.67; Bruce Roorda, 40.18.

THESE 1978 PARTICIPANTS in the Master Corn and Soybean Growers Contest co-sponsored by the Lions club and FFA were guests of the Lions club in March 1979. Framed certificates recognizing the highest yields were presented. Pictured are, from left, in front: Robert Haworth, Raymond Tarvin, Bruce Roorda, Carroll Smith, Frank Helm. In back: Bill Rempp, Robert Widmer, Loren Roorda, Roy James, Eugene Merck, Kevin Rempp and Ken Smith.

The average for all contestants was 48.42 bushels. The state soybean winner was from Mt. Pleasant with a 67.55 bu. yield.

Contest Chairman Sheetz said, “Average yields in the corn and bean contests over the previous 12 years – 1966 through 1978 – indicated that 1978 was one of the best crop years during that time span.”