EDITOR'S NOTE — This was one of several stories featured in the Morris Daily Herald's special Corn Festival section, which is available inside the Tuesday, Sept. 25 edition.

"If it wasn't for the volunteers in this event, the event wouldn't be ... it just wouldn't be," said Grundy County Corn Festival Board President John Sparrow.

Out of the almost 200 people it takes to put on and run Corn Fest each year, Sparrow said, only two people are paid — and they are part-time employees. The rest volunteer their time for everything from planning and advertising to setting up and cleaning after the festival has come and gone.

The theme chosen to represent the 2012 Grundy County Corn Festival is "Volunteers – the Heart of our Community."