The Kimballton Cornhusking Board was formed in 1982 to plan an old fashioned corn husking contest, which was held that October. It drew such a large, enthusiastic crowd that the committee decided to have a second event in 1983, the year of Kimballton's Centennial celebration. Thus the annual event was born.

A Sesquicentennial event in 1996, the Iowa State Hand Cornhusking Contest, is usually held on the second full weekend of every October, with the husking contests on Sunday. Kimballton's reputation is growing as one of the most organized, efficient, fair and accurate contests in the country. Kimballton hosted both state and national contests in October, 1991, and will host the nationals again in 2000.

State Contest: October 21, 2000
National Contest: October 22, 2000

Other events at the Kimballton Cornhusking contest include a Saturday night banquet, a Sunday morning Danish ethnic breakfast with aebleskiver and Danish sausage at the Town Hall, an early-morning community worship service in the church, working machinery and equipment displays, pioneer craft demonstrations, other contests, art and crafts, as well as food stand and shops open for the occasion.