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Committee approves $2,000 for Tour de Corn; organizer says proceeds fund trails and youth bikes
Summary
The committee approved $2,000 for the Tour de Corn’s 30th-anniversary event, less than the $3,000 requested; organizer Courtney Denning said funds support Lake Mitchell trail maintenance, holiday bike giveaways and low‑cost repairs for families.
Courtney Denning told the committee she was seeking $3,000 to support the Tour de Corn’s 30th-anniversary weekend and the programs it funds, including maintenance of Lake Mitchell bike trails and seasonal bike giveaways for children.
Denning, who introduced the ride’s history and logistics, said the event began in 1994 and drew a record 394 riders in 2019. “This year, we have about 268 registered this far, but everyone in Mitchell seems to wait till the day of to register,” she said, adding she expected attendance to climb above 300 and that the group’s goal is about 350 riders.
The committee’s materials show the event is a multi-day weekend with a Friday pump-track competition and burger feed, distance rides on Saturday (100‑, 62‑ and 35‑mile routes, plus a 15‑mile option) and optional guided single-track rides on Sunday. Denning said roughly half the riders travel from outside Mitchell, listing Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Omaha and other nearby cities among draws.
Committee members asked logistical questions about start locations and outreach; Denning said riders leave from the Corn Palace and agreed to follow up with board members on specific contacts.
In executive session the committee voted to award Tour de Corn $2,000, a smaller amount than requested. Chair called the motion by Dave, second by Doug, and the vote passed. The award is intended to support the event’s trail maintenance and community programs; the committee did not attach additional conditions in the recorded motion.
The event is scheduled for the coming weekend; Denning said proceeds will continue to fund trails, provide 8–10 bikes each Christmas (selected by elementary principals), and cover repair costs for families who cannot afford them.
