The bunting is strewn; the town is getting cloaked in yellow, and friends and neighbors are preparing to descend on a closed Main Street beginning at 3pm (and not a moment before) Friday in Carmi. It’s time for Corn Day again and with that, the Carmi Kiwanis Club took it’s final opportunity Thursday prior to the festival to dish and dole out thanks and appreciation for the nearly 100 sponsors who have made significant contributions toward the gathering. Nancy J Winter heads the fundraising committee and opened the meeting.
Whenever you hear Carmi Corn Days, what do you think? Friends? Fun? That’s what I think of and I just enjoy everything that gets to happen at Corn Day and all the changes that get made even though so many things stay the same because we’re always striving to do it better. So I want to thank Kiwanis members for what they do and for planning a fantastic event. People don’t really know how much organization it takes and you guys are just fabulous…and I want to include the City of Carmi and its employees on that too. So today we want to especially honor the financial support of our community and surrounding area who so generously give so we can have such a great festival.
Assisting Winter in shoring up support include Clint Taylor, Meagan Drone, Megan Newman, and Katelyne Wolff. Beyond that, the staff at Winter’s office work to make sure everything gets invoiced and coordinated. Corn Day 2025 is supported this year by 98 sponsors split amongst 5 levels and totaling more than $62,000. Corporate sponsors include Campbell Farms, City of Carmi, Dillman Services, First Bank, George Mitchell Drilling, Huck’s Convenience Stores, Nancy J Winter, CPA, Peoples National Bank, Shawnee Oil, Shepard Insurance, Slay’s Carpet Care and Slay’s Restoration, and WROY/WRUL.
There are also 13 Platinum Sponsors
29 Gold Sponsors
28 Silver Sponsors
And 15 Bronze Sponsors including: Rush Appliance, Kyle Hosick with Country Financial, Duo Boutique & Coffeehouse, Escapes Travel & Cruises, Farmhouse Florist, Fisher Auto Parts (Blankenship), J&J Gaming, Joe’s Lawn Care, Little Sprouts Learning Center, MisFit Fab Design & Decor, NFE Realty, State Farm Insurance Agent James Cook, The Print Shop Graphics Group, The Property Shop, and Top Shelf Discounters.
After Corn Day, Kiwanis will induct new officers at next week’s Thursday meeting and celebrate President Amanda Nelson’s steady hand at the ship over the last year.