This photograph shows farmer Elmer G. Carlson of Audubon, Iowa. During the 1930s, Carlson participated in corn husking competitions across the Midwest. In each of these competitions, Carlson husked corn without a shirt on. In 1935, Carlson won the National Corn Husking Championship held in Attica, Indiana. In addition to competing as a corn husker, Carlson founded the Carlson Hybrid Seed Corn Company. He named his brand of seed corn "Carlson's Champion Hybrid Corn." Later in life, Carlson founded the Farmers of Iowa Inaugural Committee. As part of this committee, Carlson rented the ballroom of the International Inn in Washington D.C. for three nights in January 1977 to celebrate the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter. Thousands of people attended the parties that he held on these nights. Content can be used with the following standards: 4th grade SS 4.26 Changes to Agriculture and SS-Econ. 9-12. 24 Iowa Impact Upon Economy in a lesson on the development of agricultural companies in Iowa. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item regarding copyright restrictions.
2018.034.006 [Print, Photographic]
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Ownership of this resource is held by the Audubon County Historical Society and has been provided here for educational purposes only, specifically for use in the Iowa Museum Association's "Teaching Iowa History" project. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission from the Rights Holder. For information on U.S. and International copyright laws, consult an attorney.