Farmer's Market Corn Shucking Contest

Two weeks ago, Ed McNeal the Director of Marketing & Communications of the city of Winston-Salem, contacted me to ask if I'd like to participate in a corn shucking contest at the Dixie Classic Fair Farmer's Market against the mayor of Winston-Salem. It sounded like fun, I really enjoy every farmer's market in our area, so I said yes. The contest was a "corn-raiser" for Samaritan Ministries' Soup Kitchen. All of the corn to be shucked was donated by market vendors and it was all donated to the soup kitchen.

Then magic happened.

I casually mentioned the contest to my friends and one friend went crazy: "We need shirts! We need buttons! We need a whole group of our friends to go and cheer you on!" Everyone likes a little entourage beside and behind them when they're doing something cool, so I agreed. Little did I know how far she was going to go:

She took this photo:

Me, in France!

And turned it into THIS:

Me, in digital!

Which turned into THIS:

Me, engraved!

My face and likeness on a t-shirt! What you can't see is the white glitter dusted on the front (and all over my arms). The big ear of corn? She fashioned a 3 ft tall corn stalk out of egg cartons, tissue paper, burlap pieces, hot glue and sheer genius. She has a tumblr, Today I Glued. Follow it. Her #@&! is amazing.

I competed against Allen Joines--the mayor, the executive director of Samaritan Ministries and a whole bunch of little kids. The kids had their own division, but I still competed against them. They were at my table.

Watch what happens below:


My win is now forever immortalized on film AND in print. Read the Winston-Salem Journal's recap of my victory, here: Aw Shucks: Woman lives up to billing on her shirt in corn shucking contest

In a final fantastic surprise, I won $25 for first place! I did not know there was a cash prize. My $25 will be spent on food for Second Harvest Food Bank. There are so many out there who do not have enough to eat.

I have always been a fan of helping out my community. In high school, it was required that each student finish 15 community service hours per year. I went over and beyond and committed to over 100 hours per year. I was awarded a little certificate in appreciation for my work at the local American Red Cross chapter and to this day, I am still committed to my community. I have been a Winston-Salem Jaycee for over 4 years and even though I am focusing on my career right now, my dedication to Winston-Salem has never wavered.