Cornstock

A Brief History

Lisa Fuglie is credited for the idea of Cornstock, which was first held in April 1989. The first Cornstock was co-sponsored by the Campus Entertainment Commission and the Inter-Hall Council, and each dormitory supplied funds so students would not have to pay to attend the event.

For more than a decade, Cornstock was held on Olin Hill and featured mainly local artists. In its early years, the event was a daylong affair lasting from around noon until the late afternoon or early evening. By 1991, the event had grown in popularity and saw record attendance of 1,200.

Cornstock has also regularly sought to raise awareness or funding for a particular cause such as food drives, Earth Day, or breast cancer. In 1994, the event was shortened in length and brought in national and regional bands to help with attendance, which increased to 2,500 in 1996.

By the late 1990s, the turnout was dropping because the event was not holding the sustained attention of attendees, especially with lesser-known artists. The event was changed to an evening concert with one band, and tickets were sold to the community to generate more interest. The venue also changed in the 2000s with many of the Cornstock concerts held at Jake Christiansen Stadium.

Throughout the 2000s and even into the 2010s, the event has continued to change in its makeup. Contests, games, and other additional forms of entertainment and activities have been added. The planning team has continued to please the student body by bringing in headliners along with more local bands. A consistent goal of CEC (now Campus Events Commission) is to find the best performers they can and remain on budget.

Past Performances