Heavy afternoon rains, and even a little bit of flooding in the area, didn’t stop hundreds of people from having a good time at the Minnesota Corn Growers Association’s (MCGA) inaugural Kernel Nation event in Albert Lea last week.

The event was such a hit that MCGA is bringing Kernel Nation to Willmar this Thursday. Full details can be found at KernelNation.com.

Kernel Nation in Albert Lea featured an afternoon of family fun, food, music and games at Edgewater Park. Attendees took selfies with Maizey, danced with the Twin Cities Road Crew and learned more about food, farming and homegrown biofuels.

Earlier in the day, MCGA farmer-leaders hosted a lunch for community leaders and led a tour of POET Biofuels in nearby Glenville. E85 — a fuel blend of 85 percent homegrown ethanol fuel and regular unleaded — was discounted by 85 cents per gallon at three area fueling stations. Kernel Nation concluded with an A-Maiz-Ing performance by the Bayside Ski Show.

To get yourself pumped up for Kernal Nation in Willmar, here are a few pictures from last week’s Albert Lea event.

Kernel Nation had its own blimp. Yes, a blimp!

Taking a selfie with the one and only Maziey at Kernel Nation.

Face-painting is one of the many fun things for kids to do at Kernel Nation.

Remember: Kernel Nation is in Willmar on Thursday, July 7. That’s tomorrow! Get all the details here.