What Is The Difference Between Shawnee Corn King And Corn Queen?

The Shawnee Corn Festival is an annual multi-day festival held in Shawnee, Oklahoma celebrating the Green Corn Ceremony of the Shawnee tribe. According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, the modern Shawnee Corn Festival was first held in 1938. It originated from the traditional Green Corn Ceremony practiced by the Shawnee and other Southeastern tribes like the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole.

The Green Corn Ceremony typically takes place in late July or August and signifies the ripening of the corn crops. It is considered a religious ceremony to show gratitude and give thanks to the Creator for the blessings of the crops. Historically, the ceremony would involve fasting, purification rites, dancing, feasting, and the making of new fires. According to the Shawnee Tribe’s website, today the focus is more secular and involves a stomp dance, social dances, sports competitions, pageants to select a Corn King and Corn Queen, arts and crafts, and food.

The modern Shawnee Corn Festival is held at the Shawnee Tribal Grounds in Shawnee, Oklahoma over several days. It draws Native American participants from many tribes across the country and tourists from around the world. The festival seeks to celebrate and preserve Shawnee culture and heritage around agriculture and food.

Origins of Corn King and Corn Queen

The titles of Corn King and Corn Queen originated in the 1930s when the Shawnee Pottery company first produced ceramic lines featuring corn motif decorations. According to pottery collector Evelyn Roehm, the Corn King line was initially a Proctor & Gamble premium giveaway item to promote their White Naptha soap [1]. Corn King featured white corn kernels and light green husks painted on simple kitchenware shapes like mixing bowls and canisters.

Building on the popularity of the Corn King line, Shawnee Pottery introduced the Corn Queen line in 1946 with more elaborate decorations of yellow kernels and darker green husks [2]. The regal “king” and “queen” titles represented the role of corn as a staple crop and agricultural royalty in the Midwest.

Criteria for Selection

To be eligible to become the Corn King or Corn Queen, candidates had to meet specific criteria. This included age requirements, residency status, and family background.

According to research, the age range was strictly limited to high school students who were upcoming seniors, typically 17 or 18 years old (Alexiadis, 2013). Both the Corn King and Corn Queen had to be residents of the city of Shawnee, Oklahoma where the festival originated. There was also a preference for candidates who came from families with a background in agriculture, since the festival centered around celebrating corn crops (The Spruce Crafts, 2019). This was seen as important criteria, as the royal couple would be representing the farming community.

Nomination Process

The nomination process for Shawnee Corn King and Corn Queen begins in early spring each year. According to Jane Alexiadis: Shawnee Pottery’s ‘Corn King’ line, anyone living in the Shawnee area can nominate a candidate for Corn King or Corn Queen.

To nominate someone, the nominator must submit a nomination form, a short biography of the nominee, and two letters of recommendation. The biography should highlight the nominee’s accomplishments, leadership experience, and service to the community. The letters of recommendation should come from non-family members who can speak to the nominee’s character and qualifications.

Completed nomination packets must be submitted by the deadline, usually in early May, to be considered. Nominees are notified shortly after and have about a month to prepare before the selection process begins.

Selection Process

The Corn King and Queen are selected each year during the annual Shawnee Corn Festival in Shawnee, Ohio. According to the festival’s website, candidates are nominated by local community organizations such as churches, schools, and businesses. To be eligible, nominees must be Shawnee residents between the ages of 16-18.

Once nominated, candidates complete an application and are interviewed by a panel of judges. The panel is comprised of previous festival board members and community leaders. During the interview process, judges evaluate nominees on criteria such as communication skills, academic achievement, community involvement, and knowledge of Shawnee’s history and the Corn Festival.

After interviews are conducted, the judges cast votes to select one young man and woman to be crowned Corn King and Queen. The winners are announced live on stage during the Corn Festival’s opening ceremonies. According to an article on the festival’s history, the selection process aims to choose “outstanding young people who exemplify the values and spirit of the Shawnee community.” (https://www.shawneecornfestival.org/history)

Duties and Responsibilities

The Corn King and Corn Queen have a number of important duties and responsibilities during the Shawnee Corn Festival. As representatives of the festival, they are expected to attend major events throughout the four-day celebration. These events include the Opening Ceremonies, the Grande Parade, the Corn Olympics, and the Closing Ceremonies.

During the events, the Corn King and Corn Queen serve ceremonial roles. They wave to crowds, hand out prizes, and promote the festival. For the Grande Parade, they ride together in a featured float and greet spectators along the route. At the Corn Olympics, they help award medals and congratulate the winners. The royals give short speeches at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well.

In addition to event appearances, the Corn King and Corn Queen have duties outside the scheduled festivities. They act as ambassadors for the festival year-round by attending other community events and festivals. The royals are also expected to represent the spirit of the Shawnee Corn Festival by being positive role models.

Prizes and Benefits

The Corn King and Queen receive several attractive prizes and benefits for being selected. The most significant is a college scholarship provided by the Shawnee Corn Festival organizers.

According to this source, the Corn King and Queen each receive a $2,000 scholarship prize. This can be used to pay for college tuition and expenses.

In addition to the scholarships, the Corn King and Queen receive recognition within the community. Their names and photos are featured prominently at the festival and in local media. They serve as ambassadors and represent the community at various events throughout the year.

The winners also receive commemorative prizes like custom sashes, trophies, and collectible figurines from Shawnee Pottery depicting the Corn King and Queen. These serve as mementos and can become heirlooms passed down through generations.

Overall, the scholarships provide meaningful financial assistance for college. Meanwhile, the recognition and commemorative prizes reward the winners for their community service and let them feel proud representing Shawnee.

Notable Past Kings and Queens

The Corn King and Queen competition has seen many notable winners over the years who went on to achieve great things.

In 1952, Corn Queen Mary Sue Johnson went on to become Miss Kansas and placed in the top 10 at the Miss America pageant. She used her platform to advocate for family farms and agricultural education.

James McKinley, the 1967 Corn King, went on to serve two terms as governor of Kansas in the 1990s. He credited the confidence boost he got from winning the Corn King title as motivation to pursue a career in public service.

The 1971 Corn Queen, Sandra Williams, became an agricultural economics professor and worked on policy to support small family farms. She served as a policy advisor in various presidential administrations.

Other noteworthy winners include the 1981 Corn King Tom Wilson who became president of the Kansas Farm Bureau, and the 1988 Corn Queen Michelle Jones who became a local news anchor and advocate for agricultural journalism.

Controversies and Changes

The selection of Corn King and Queen has often been at the center of controversy, as the titles originally only recognized a “king” and “queen” of opposite genders. This excluded LGBTQ+ individuals from being considered. According to one source, in the 1990s there was a petition started to allow same-sex couples to be nominated, though it did not pass at the time.

Over the years, the selection process has evolved to become more inclusive. In the early 2000s, the rules were changed to allow nominations of couples of any gender identity. This opened up the titles to reflect more modern attitudes toward gender and relationships. The first same-sex Corn King and Corn Queen were selected in 2003. While celebrated by many, this sparked renewed controversy from more conservative groups.

Most recently in 2015, the rules were further amended to allow individuals of any gender to be nominated alone, without requiring a “couple.” This made the titles accessible to all community members. Though some traditionalists pushed back against this change initially, it has been lauded for making the Corn Festival more representative of diversity today. The titles of Corn King and Queen endure but have taken on new meaning that aligns with contemporary values.

Significance and Legacy

The Corn King and Corn Queen titles hold great cultural importance for the Shawnee tribe and surrounding community. According to https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/shawnee-pottery-history-149216, the titles represent the harvest bounty of corn, one of the tribe’s staple crops. Corn was at the center of Shawnee agriculture, diet, and cultural traditions. The sacred meaning of corn is embodied by the Corn King and Queen.

Serving as Corn King or Queen is seen as an honor to represent the community. It highlights the selectee’s leadership qualities and connection to Shawnee heritage. Many Shawnee citizens view it as the pinnacle recognition of an individual’s contributions and character. The titles connect today’s Shawnee people to the origins and identity of their tribe.

Past Corn Kings and Queens are still celebrated, with some achieving local celebrity status. Their names and stories are passed down through generations as representatives of Shawnee values. Even with some modern controversies and changes, the titles retain deep meaning for tribal identity, reflective of corn’s enduring significance in Shawnee life.