Today (6/11) Is National Corn On The Cob Day

It's not really summertime until you've eaten your first corn on the cob. Today is a great day to celebrate what our state is known for the most. Problem is, good ole' Iowa corn is just starting to poke out of the ground, trying to reach that goal of "knee-high by the 4th of July". So, I guess some "Florida" corn will have to do, for now. It's not the same, but it will work.

Hey, I bet you can you name the top corn-producing state? If you said "Iowa", good job, our fine state is the largest producer of corn in the United States. Iowa is known as “The Corn State”, considering 90% of our land is devoted to agriculture. It's true, pick anywhere in the Cedar Valley, pick any direction, drive 2 miles and you'll be standing in the middle of a cornfield.

The U.S. is the largest corn producer in the world. The top states that produce the most corn are, of course, Iowa, then Illinois comes in 2nd, followed by 3rd place Nebraska, they're nicknamed the "Cornhusker State", you would think they could do better than 3rd place! And, rounding out the top 5 are Minnesota and Indiana.

National Today talks about corn on the cob being called a "corn stick" or a "sweet pole." I've never heard of those nick-names before, call me a "bad Iowan." Boiling corn seems to be the most popular way to prepare it. Just add a dash of sugar, and boil it for 10 minutes, no more, no less. You can also steam it, roast it, or grill it. You just stick it on the grill husk and all. I've never had much success grilling corn, probably because I pay more attention to my "adult beverage" than actually grilling.

But anyway, I bet you didn't know there a "right way" and a "wrong way" to eat corn on the cob? My family slathers on the butter and the most salt you can possibly stand, and then you attack the cob from left to right, going straight across (like an old typewriter), rotating the cob until your finished. If you eat the corn going up and down on the cob, you're doing it wrong, what are you some kind of crazy person?

So, grab some corn on the cob and celebrate what makes Iowa great...family, friends, and great food. You're welcome, world.