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They went through 24,000 ears of corn and that was just enough to feed the crowds that attended Holmen’s Kornfest last weekend.

“We had a few ears leftover,” said Holmen American Legion Commander Tom Phillips. “But there was no chicken on the chickencue line.”

He also said the Lions Club had a great car show, the parade was well attended and everyone seemed to have a good year.

The car show, a washout last year, drew about 340 vehicles on Sunday, a big comeback. “That makes it the biggest show in the area by far,” said Lions Club President Barry Ploessl.

It all adds up to a successful event for Phillips and other Kornfest organizers and eliminated doubt as to whether to continue the tradition. There was some question as to whether the event would be held in the future because of changes being made to the Halfway Creek Park by the village of Holmen.

“I don’t know how far along they’ll be by this time next year,” Phillips said. “But with all the response we had, a group of us talked and decided there was no way we could not have it. It won’t look like this year’s Fest. We just might have to phase down some depending on the facilities in the park.”

Phillips said people came to him all weekend saying the fest just has to continue and it’s been in the community for so long and everyone has such a great time.

“With the people that came over this weekend, you could tell they want it here,” Phillips said. He also said there was some uproar because a lot of people didn’t even know there was anything going on with the park.

An article in last week’s edition discussed the problems facing the group in hosting any more Kornests because of the changes in the park. The area where the beer tent stands will be converted to a grassy area and the stage area will be converted to an outdoor amphitheater.

“After the Courier article, a lot of people called me and thanked me for bringing (the park changes) to their attention,” Phillips said.

According to village construction plans, Phase I of the project should be complete by Kornest time next year.

Past Commander Scott Jones, a veteran of many Kornfests, said he thought the festival will only get better with the improvements to the park.

For Marion Maier, it would be hard to top this year’s Kornfest. Maier gushed about the wonderful tribute to the troops played by Restless Heart at the Sunday evening free concert that climaxed the festival.

“I just love going to a concert where I get to cry,” she wrote in an e-mail. “Restless Heart’s new song about coming home is going to rank right up there with Lee Greenwood’s (“God Bless the USA”). I am an Army wife and an Air Force mom. Both my son and daughter are serving their country. My daughter recently returned from Iraq to her duty station in Oklahoma and her little brother is overseas until March.”