WEST PALM BEACH — Top-ranked competitive eaters from around the nation will converge for the 19th Annual National Sweet Corn-Eating Championship during the 23rd South Florida Sweet Corn Fiesta on Sunday, April 30, at 3:00 P.M.

Sponsored by The Sweet Corn Farmers of Florida, the event will take place in the Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Fla. In addition to the Corn-Eating Championship title, a $6,100 prize purse is on the line for competitors.

Reigning champ Gideon Oji will return to defend his title against some of the world’s greatest eaters while attempting to beat Carmen Cincotti’s world record of 61.75 ears in 12 minutes. Last year, Oji claimed a narrow victory with 54 ears of corn – just 1.6 ears more than #4-ranked competitive eater Nick Wehry.

“Wehry has earned his title as one of the greatest in the world, and is currently on a winning streak that he will fight Oji to maintain,” said Major League Eating Chair George Shea. “The world is anxious to see who will emerge victorious from one of the most difficult eating disciplines on the circuit.”

Top-ranked eaters in attendance will include:

• Number-four-ranked competitive eater, Nick Wehry from Port Ritchey, Fla.

• Number-seven-ranked competitive eater, Gideon Oji from Morrow, Ga.

• Number-25-ranked competitive eater, Darrien Thomas from Orillia, Ont.

• Number-27-ranked competitive eater, Erik “Badlands” Booker from Selden, NY

• Number-41-ranked competitive eater, Sergio Reyes Raya from Litchfield Park, Ariz.

• Number-43-ranked competitive eater, Jocelyn Young from Sherman, Texas

• Rene Rovtar from Basking Ridge, NJ

• Peter Rovtar from Basking Ridge, NJ

The Annual South Florida Sweet Corn Fiesta will also feature a children’s corn-shucking contest, and offer festivities including children’s rides, live music performances and all things corn from 11:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M.