HARBISON, John
John Harbison
Source: Found in a collection of old obituaries saved by Mary Jo Johnson, found in Crawfordsville District Public Library. We appreciate Mary Jo's willingness to share these. (Used with permission)
Select corn like livestock, Harbison says
By David Barr
BannerGraphic Civic Affairs Editor
Selecting exhibition corn is similar to selecting livestock or other farm commodity for show purposes, John Harbison said Tuesday as he spoke to the Greencastle Optimist Club meeting in Putnam Inn.
HARBISON, WHO WAS judged world corn king for the fifth time last year, spoke of his experiences at the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair in Canada, the largest event of its kind in the world.
A Russellville Township native now living in Greencastle, Harbison is the only corn king who has been a farmer and not a professional seed grower.
He described for Optimists the type of special seed necessary to grow show corn. His final selection of 10 ears is made from an earlier selection of perhaps 1,000 likely ears.
A LIFE-TIME FARMER before his retirement, Harbison was the last Putnam County corn husking champion, Using the hand method, he husked more than 33 bushels in 80 minutes.
Before the formal program, Optimists discussed plans for their coming Auction April 12 and 13 at Central National Bank. Inducted into the club were Mark Hopkins, Jack Mace and Charlie Schenk .