“Herky of the Corn” is enveloped in a green corn husk. Its body is completely covered in yellow and white corn kernels. The statue itself aims to mimic an ear of corn. It is assumed that “Herky of the Corn” is male, due to the fact that most (if not, all) Herky statues portray Herky as a male. Herky is standing with his arms at his hips, and his legs spread in a wide stance. 

This Herky was created by April and Jim Kelly of Iowa City. Both April and Jim are Iowa City natives. April graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in Studio Art and Art Education and currently teaches in the Iowa City Community School District. The statue is currently placed at Hills Bank and Trust in Coralville, IA. 

 “Herky of the Corn” aims to instill a sense of pride in Iowans. The statue’s confident stance encourages Iowans to be proud of living in a state that places an emphasis on agriculture. “Herky of the Corn” also highlights the agricultural industry and its importance. Making a Herky statue look like an ear of corn stresses the specific importance of corn as the most significant export in Iowa’s economy. 

The artists that created this Herky are not popular or recognizable by name. While “Herky of the Corn” isn’t a particularly well-known piece of art, Herky himself is immediately recognizable as an iconic figure in Iowa City.

The title “Herky of the Corn” is also immediately recognizable as an homage to the wildly popular Stephen King book/movie, “Children of the Corn.” Jim and April Kelly parodied the iconic book/movie title to grant the statue more popularity and credibility. 

 “Herky of the Corn” represents the values that Iowans hold close to them and aims to inspire Iowans to feel good about where they come from. The statue also aims to encourage people to appreciate the significance of agriculture. While Iowa is urbanizing more than ever, the agricultural industry still remains the one of the most significant aspects of Iowa’s economy.