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Henry A. Wallace Field Day
August 25, 2021 @ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
This come-and-go event for all ages includes tours of the Historic Corn Plot and a display of Pioneer-branded artifacts from WCI’s collection. Refreshments of ice tea, lemonade and popcorn will be are provided by Farmers Electric Co-op of Greenfield.
The Historic Corn Plot celebrates Henry A. Wallace’s critical role in corn hybridization and the founding of Hi-Bred Corn Company (later Pioneer Hi-Bred) in 1926. Visitors of all ages can walk through the rows of corn, observe the plants during all stages of the growing season and better understand the differences between the hybrid and non-hybrid varieties.
Five varieties of hybrid and non-hybrid corn are on display in the 2021 plot, including
- an open-pollinated sample called Reid’s Yellow Dent
- a double cross hybrid first sold in 1936
- a variety that holds the world record of 616 bushels/acre
Accompanying the plot is a large 4’ x 8’ sign explaining the science behind hybrid corn, how hybridization revolutionized agriculture, and the history of Pioneer Hi-Bred’s founding. Smaller 2’ x 2’ signs will accompany each seed variety planted in the plot, explaining its relevance and why it was selected for the demonstration.