From Moorhead to Saudi Arabia: The Corn Feed Tradition
What do 3,000 ears of corn and crowds of thousands have in common? Concordia’s annual corn feed. The corn feed idea originated from Concordia’s “Cobber” moniker. Legend states that Concordia was surrounded by a cornfield in its early days. Because Concordia was located in the country, fields were likely part of the landscape; however, at the time of Concordia’s founding, Rasmus Bogstad stated, “There was scarcely even a trace of a cornfield in the Red River Valley…and certainly none in the vicinity of Concordia College.” While the cornfield derivation is debatable, records do confirm that in the early 1890s the students from Hope Academy, a Swedish Lutheran school and rival, played a direct role in creating Concordia’s moniker as they referred to Concordia coeds as “corn cobs.” This name eventually evolved into “Cobbers” in the 1920s with consistent use of the term in the 1930s.
Mark Halaas '73
The first corn feed occurred in the summer of 1974. Conceived by Mark Halaas, Alumni Director from 1973 to 1978, the corn feed was designed to bring alumni, students, and faculty and staff together during the summer months.
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Don Krause '57 and wife Helen '56 preparing for the corn feed of 1994.
Don Krause, retired transportation supervisor and “official corn cooker,” rented three field stoves for the first corn feed, which approximately 500 people attended.
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Kathy Mcallister '81, Greg Kjellberg '81, and Dave Wasson '80 shucking corn at the corn feed of 1980.
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Dale Lammi '72 cooking corn with a student, 1991.
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The
first corn feed was so successful that it is has become a trademark summer
event for the past 34 years. By 1980, seven corn feeds were held throughout the
nation with 1,300 people attending the event in Moorhead alone. Individuals in 18 cities
hosted corn feeds in 1984. Corn feeds have not only occurred throughout the United States, but also in France, Saudi
Arabia, and Germany. Locations for the Moorhead gathering have
also changed from the north end of campus near Grose Hall and Old Main to the
southern region of campus near the Frances Frasier Comstock Theatre and the
campanile. With such large crowds and ranges of locations, the corn feeds would
not be possible without an army of leaders, workers, and volunteers. Each year
student leaders attend and assist with the corn feeds allowing them to meet and
visit with many alumni.
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While a primary goal of the corn feeds is fellowship, entertainment has always been a feature of the event including bands, door prizes, games, face painting, and more. One of the largest corn feeds was for Concordia’s 1991 centennial celebration, which was attended by approximately 5,000 people. This corn feed was held later in August allowing new and returning students to attend the celebration, and new forms of entertainment were added to engage the large crowd.
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Carl Narveson '25 husking corn at the corn feed of 1982.
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Concordia student cerca 1980 enjoying the corn feeds.
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