Top-ranked competitive eaters from around the nation will gather at the National Sweet Corn-Eating Championship on Sunday, April 24 at 3 P.M. at the South Florida Sweet Corn Fiesta in Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Reigning Sweet Corn-Eating Champion, Seattle’s Erik “The Red” Denmark, will return to defend his title in this year’s championship. His 2015 achievement marked the furthest any Major League Eating (MLE) competitor had traveled within the continental United States to secure victory. Crazy Legs Conti finished second, while then-rookie Gideon Oji gave a crushing performance for third.
MLE participants will vie for $6,100 in prize money and the title of Sweet Corn-Eating Champion.
The Sweet Corn discipline is among the toughest on the competitive eating circuit. Success depends on the relentless and rigorous application of technique.
“Sweet corn eating is extraordinarily demanding on the jaw muscles, and requires an eater with superior fitness to complete the 12-minute event,” MLE Chair George Shea said. “This is an endurance event.”
The annual South Florida Sweet Corn Fiesta, presented by the Sunshine Sweet Corn Farmers of Florida, also includes a family festival of children’s games and music, along with mouth-watering, locally grown sweet corn.
Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 11, and free to kids 5 years old and younger. A $5 unlimited rides wristband is available for kids.
Major League Eating, governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 80 events annually, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y. The competitive eating community, which numbers more than 8,000, travels the world in search of top titles. For more information, visit www.majorleagueeating.com.
