Baird Siblings Grow Tall at Thomas County Fair Corn Contest

Sibling rivalry reached new heights during the Tallest Corn Plant Contest at the 2026 Thomas County Free Fair.

Owen Baird captured first place in the contest, sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions, with a corn plant measuring exactly 144 inches—or 12 feet—tall. His younger sister, Libby Baird, finished second with a 129-inch plant, while Kyle Bremenkamp placed third with a 127-inch entry.

Owen said the winning plants came from the same general area of the family’s field. He and his father had noticed a group of especially tall plants growing behind some trees while driving past the field.

It did not take them long to locate the eventual champion.

Owen recalled standing in the pickup and spotting “that big old sucker head” sticking above the surrounding corn. The family cut the plants the night before the contest and stored them inside their shop, where Owen said it was striking to see the stalks stretched vertically along the wall.

He also offered his own agricultural theory for why the plants near the trees grew so well. Owen said plants exposed to wind develop thicker stalks to support themselves, while the nearby trees may have also provided some protection and shade.

Despite claiming the top two positions, the siblings were not ready to let the contest interfere with some good-natured teasing.

When Owen was asked what he planned to do with his prize money—and whether he might buy his sister lunch—he quickly answered, “No.”

“He hates me,” Libby replied, drawing a laugh.

Libby, 8, was equally proud of her second-place plant and enthusiastically described how the family brought several tall entries into the shop. Owen, 11, remained confident about his position throughout the morning, saying he was still winning unless “a miracle corn stalk” arrived before judging concluded.

The corn contest was only one part of a busy fair week for the Baird family. Owen and Libby were also preparing to show several animals, including pigs, cattle and a bucket calf, while taking part in other fair activities.

For at least one contest, however, the siblings proved that the Baird family’s corn stood above the rest.