So many types of corn, and so little time, best describes the annual Corn Fest that took place over the weekend in Camp Verde.
This year, hundreds of visitors of all ages braved temperatures that rose above 105 degrees to enjoy the multitudes of corn preparations available including: Elotes, tamales, kettle corn and of course, following tradition, fresh-roasted corn on the cob from Hauser and Hauser Farms.
Beyond corn, a bevy of food and beverage vendors were present, offering sweet and savory kebabs, hot dogs, Mexican food, shaved ice, beer, ice cream and more, as visitors wandered between retail booths and the music stage set up across from the farmer’s market pavilion.
Musicians included Creekside Music, 99 Years — a Johnny Cash tribute band — Country Velvet featuring Jacqu DuHane and Chris Sabbarese, Kicked Out Of Cottonwood and Rev. Nash Rambler & The Cheatin’ Gamblers.
For those seeking respite from the heat, the air-conditioned Community Center Gym was open, where more retail booths were set up, and tables were available for visitors to sit down, rest and eat.
The third annual Sweet Corn Kickboxing Championship also kicked off at 5 p.m.
Chef Daniel Keadle, a high-end dessert maker for restaurants in Sedona and the Ritz-Carlton, was serving corn crème brulée, chocolate tamales, pecan brittle and a variety of cakes in a room adjacent to the gym.
Keadle said his crème brulée recipe is an original recipe from 1997 that was featured in Homes and Gardens Magazine.
“I’m based here in Camp Verde,” Keadle said. “I work in a commercial kitchen; I don’t have signs or anything. I do the Sedona Farmers Market, Camp Verde Farmers Market and Cornville Farmer’s Market.”
Also present were several nonprofit organizations including Friends of the Verde River, Home For New Beginnings, Kiwanis of Camp Verde and the American Red Cross of Yavapai County.
“We’re here giving out information to people about different types of disasters,” said Tom Altavilla of Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services. “We also install smoke alarms for free; we’re getting people to sign up for smoke alarms. Part of the Red Cross is not only to respond to disasters but to prevent disaster as well.”
Events took place all throughout the day, including a cornhole tournament, “corny joke open mic” and a salsa contest.
Nicole Metz-Andrews of Camp Verde Community Library, judged of the contest, and said that 18 entrants applied between traditional and nontraditional categories.
“It was quite a bit of salsa.” she said.
The library also had a booth set up where children could decorate rocks with brightly-colored paint.
“We ran out of rocks by 5:30,” Metz-Andrews said.
Perhaps the hardest-working person at the event was Javier Rodriguez, who was roasting countless ears of corn all day in front of the gym with little shade to speak of.
“I have plenty of water,” he smiled, pointing to a faucet attached to the roaster.
The event was hosted by Camp Verde Parks & Recreation, and was sponsored by Yavapai College, and local businesses.
