Where to find the state cornhole tournament — and even play in it

Cornhole enthusiasts from across the state will converge this week near Lennox.

The newly opened Prosper Country Warehouse & Event Hall just east of town will host the South Dakota Cornhole state tournament Feb. 9 and 10.

“The state tournament usually sees around 50 teams compete, or 100 players total,” said Tyler Earls, the organizer of the event. “Teams can enter into one of three divisions based on skill level — open, intermediate or competitive — which helps attract casual players who maybe have only played in their backyard or on a camping trip.”

Earls, who is from Mitchell, has organized the event for the past four years. Like many others, he was first drawn into the cornhole community by the state tournament.

“I heard about the state tournament one year and decided to give it a try,” Earls said. “You get to meet players from all over South Dakota, and you find out that it’s not much different from playing with family or friends on weekends or vacations. There’s many local cornhole groups across the state that organize tournaments and leagues throughout the year that you can get involved with.”

Since Earls took over the state tournament, the event has changed locations in an effort to attract the greatest number of participants. The past three tournaments were held in Chamberlain, Pierre and Deadwood. This year will be the first time that Earls will hold the event in the Sioux Falls area.

“It is difficult to find a venue that is big enough to fit the number of courts we need for the state tournament,” he said. “My fiance and I discovered Prosper Country Warehouse & Event Hall after seeing an ad for another cornhole tournament being held there. We were very excited when we came and saw that the space was big enough. We’re blessed to have found Prosper, and we’re excited to work with them on the tournament.”

Anyone interested in participating in the state tournament can find more information, including entry fees, tournament formats and more, on Prosper Country Warehouse & Event Hall’s Facebook page. You can register for the tournament at the American Cornhole League’s website, iplaycornhole.com.