By Brandon Farmer, Assistant Editor (Kienan Corn Contest 2026 photo provided by Tammy Tiller)
On Sunday, August 2nd, local semi-professional corn eating champion, Kienan Tiller made history as he recorded yet another unprecedented win at the Stanton Corn Festival. When the bell tolled and the ears dropped, Tiller once again arose victorious and received yet another illustrious addition to his already impressive trophy collection after successfully corn-pleting his run at a historic FIVEPEAT.
Kienan has been corn-peting in the adult (16+) division since 2022, known for having a strong lineup of corn-tenders, aggressively vying for the coveted title. His run also includes one year winning the Coaches Division. He explained that he had never given the competition much thought prior to 2022 but had been corn-vinced to finally throw his hat in the ring and give it a shot.
“I’ve always been kind of a fast eater,” Kienan explained, “Tammy (Kienan’s wife) is all the time asking, ‘do you even taste your food’? So, I was like, what the heck, I’ll just try.”
Kienan said that his skill for eating corn is an innate trait, coming naturally to him and his tendency to always corn-sume food at an expedited rate. He does not train or corn-dition prior to the event but is mindful of the amount of food he eats on the big day, limiting himself to a single biscuit from DQ to tide him over before the competition. In 2024, however, Tiller succumbed to the temptation of Mama D’s Crack Chicken and had a meal before the big show. The food truck did not hinder his performance, though, as he pulled in win number 3 only a short time later.
This year, Kienan did switch up his technique, employing a new tactic which involved eating the corn vertically instead of the traditional horizontal method. This decision stemmed from some intensive research corn-ducted by Tiller, studying other competitive eaters and refining his process. He admitted that this new approach came with certain challenges that he will seek to improve upon in coming years.
Kienan explained that while he is not superstitious, he does carry a tradition into the ring every year. When he takes his place at the long table, he will always be wearing a special lid provided by Creekwater Hat Company, his unofficial sponsor for the event. When Kienan won his first corn-test, he used his proceeds to purchase a hat from his friend at Creekwater and now, every year he corn-petes, he dons the hat he purchased the year prior.
While Kienan is now widely recognized as the Heavyweight Champ of the Corn Eating Contest, his involvement with the festival does not end there as he and his wife Tammy also volunteer as event staff, assisting with operations and ensuring that every festival attendee has a fun and safe experience. Additionally, Kienan braves the intense heat and volunteers to be the mascot, Shucky – walking the festival, engaging with fans, and posing for selfies while wearing the costume of the beloved humanoid ear of corn and face of the Stanton Corn Festival.
Please join the Patriot in offering our sincerest congratulations to Corn Champ Kienan Tiller and his historic victory, and in wishing him success in years to come.
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