A young man named Lester Bryant, who was 14 and growing exceptional corn at the time, died under mysterious circumstances in Washington D.C. in 1913. The story begins with a photo of Bryant, state champion corn grower of 1912, who was supposed to be honored for his achievements but went missing during a trip to Washington. A search found him lifeless in his room, and an investigation suggested that he might have accidentally turned off the gas lamp or been unaware of its presence.
Bryant’s death sparked widespread attention, with newspapers across the country reporting on it. His body was returned to Kentucky, where a large crowd attended his funeral. To honor Bryant, his parents received seed corn from his famous crop, which is now sold for $1 per ear and used to build a monument in his memory.
A tribute by Alabama Rep. J. Thomas Heflin drew loud applause from legislators, calling Bryant the “little wizard of the cornfield.” Despite an investigation, no clear conclusions were reached about the cause of Bryant’s death.
Source: https://bgdailynews.com/2026/06/27/the-mystery-of-the-little-wizard-of-the-cornfield