THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Kevin Root showing how to make a Cornjerkers T-shirt.
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HOOPESTON — When it comes to mascots, residents are used to all the corny jokes about Jerky, the anthropomorphized ear of corn that is the Hoopeston Area school district’s pride and joy.
It’s so unique that it was named in ESPN Magazine’s top mascots.
Signs welcome and let you know you’re leaving “Cornjerker Country” when traveling along Illinois 1.
High school business teacher and basketball coach Kevin Root said transplants sometimes don’t like the mascot, but they get used to it. Those born and raised here get to meet Jerky at a young age — through class visits, parades and other events — and can’t help but love and take pride in the smiling corncob.
Hoopeston has been known as the “Sweet Corn Capital of the World,” thanks to its history as home to three canning companies at one time.
FOR MORE FROM THIS STORY PLEASE GO TO https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/community-events/having-fun-on-illinois-1-meet-jerky-hoopestons-famous-mascot/article_ce1f85e9-9f69-47a7-a28e-b653e0151288.html
