The Morden Corn and Apple Festival is one of the largest summer events in southern Manitoba, drawing thousands of visitors each year. At the center of it all is a simple tradition: fresh, buttery corn on the cob. What many people don’t realize is that behind the steaming piles of corn are dozens of volunteers working hard to keep the booth running smoothly.
For Denise Enns, who has spent the last 12 years helping at the booth, the work has become a community highlight. “I started out just handing out corn,” she said with a laugh. “I guess I’m a yes person. I can’t say no, and it turned out to be so much fun. It really is a blast.”
A community effort
The corn booth is one of the busiest spots at the festival. To keep things running, Enns explained that they rely on a steady flow of helping hands. “We need 15 volunteers every three hours,” she said. “That’s how it runs perfectly. I’ve noticed in the last couple of years that’s the number that works best.”
Over the three-day festival, with two shifts per day, that adds up to a lot of people needed to keep the corn moving. While Fridays and Sundays are filling up, Enns said Saturday shifts are still looking short. “I’m texting everyone I know right now,” she admitted. “It’s always a bit of a scramble, but the community always comes through.”
“Honestly, if you come work in the booth, you’ll have a blast. We’ve got such a great team, and it’s the best way to feel connected to the festival.” - Denise Enns
More than just corn
For Enns, the experience is about more than just food. “The best part is getting to know people,” she said. “You connect with volunteers and festival-goers you might never have met otherwise. It’s amazing how many people come from all over the states just for this festival. It’s crazy to see.”
Working side by side with volunteers of all ages has been especially rewarding. “People sometimes think teenagers won’t want to volunteer, but they’re some of the best workers we have,” she shared. “It’s really cool to see people of all ages coming together for something that means so much to our community.”
50,000 cobs and counting
The scale of the booth is impressive. Last year, they sold around 50,000 cobs of corn. With that many hungry visitors, efficiency is key. To make it easier for festival-goers, the booth even delivers orders straight to vehicles. “We have a quad we use to take bags of corn to people’s cars,” Enns said. “My volunteers love it, and so do the families who don’t want to carry corn around all day.”
The booth also offers an alternative to the free corn line, something that surprises many people. For just two dollars, visitors can skip the long wait and enjoy the same hot, buttery corn. “We sell the exact same corn as the free line,” Enns explained. “It’s a great option if you don’t want to stand in line for too long.”
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A festival worth the work
While the long hours leave her smelling like corn by the end of the weekend, Enns wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’ve lived in Morden all my life, and it’s amazing to be part of something this big for our community,” she said. “Corn and Apple is our family’s favorite thing to do. I may be exhausted by Sunday, but I wouldn’t trade it.”
The booth still needs volunteers, and Enns hopes more people will step up to join in the fun. “Honestly, if you come work in the booth, you’ll have a blast,” she said. “We’ve got such a great team, and it’s the best way to feel connected to the festival.”
To volunteer, call Denise Enns at 431-822-1051 or find her contact information on the official Corn and Apple Festival Instagram page.