88 ABW leadership clinches championship at Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival

  • Published
  • By Tiffany Scofield
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
FAIRBORN, Ohio --  

Leadership from the 88th Air Base Wing took home the championship trophy after dominating the City of Fairborn civic leaders in a corn-eating competition during the 44th Annual Fairborn Sweet Corn Festival at Community Park, Aug. 15.  

The friendly contest served as a high-visibility engagement highlighting the strong, enduring relationship between Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and its neighboring community. 

Prior to the start of the competition, Fairborn Mayor Daniel R. Kirkpatrick and Col. Jason Okumura, 88th Air Base Wing commander, delivered remarks emphasizing the shared history and mutual support between the installation and the city. Kirkpatrick highlighted the collaborative spirit of the gathering, noting that the event represents the close-knit nature of the area. 

"It's all for fun," Kirkpatrick said. "It's all part of what makes this a great community." 

Okumura expressed his appreciation to the event organizers and volunteers for their dedication to fostering community cohesion through the annual festival. He then introduced his leadership team, which included Col. Dorinda Mazza, 88 ABW deputy commander, Mr. John Faulkner, 88 ABW executive director, and Chief Master Sgt. Jason Vollmer, 88 ABW command chief. 

The competition matched the 88 ABW leadership team against a Fairborn civic leader team that included Kirkpatrick and Deputy Mayor Clint Allen, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant. The contest was executed in three distinct heats, with strict rules of engagement governing the match. 

The judging of the event was conducted under the oversight of the 2026 Fairborn Sweetcorn Festival King and Queen, Alan and Dottie Meade. The Meades evaluated the cobs to ensure standard compliance before declaring the wing leadership victorious. 

The friendly competition concluded as a successful engagement, reinforcing the deep community ties and mutual support that define the relationship between Wright-Patterson AFB and the City of Fairborn.