Iowa school shucks ban on corn-eating contest

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa has shucked its ban on an annual corn eating contest after removing the gluttony.

Phillip Jones, the school's vice president for student services, said many people asked what he had against corn - the state's hallmark crop - after he canceled the all-you-can-eat contest last year.

"I got a lot of complaints from around the state," he said. "'Why do you have something against corn?' It's not the corn; it's the concept."

The contest, part of a week's celebration leading up the annual football game against Iowa State, will be allowed this year - but students will compete to see who can eat a single ear of corn the fastest, not who can eat the most.

"They are doing it in a short and fun way and promoting the state's major product," Jones said.