Auburn Chamber of Commerce Issues Open Letter Addressing Cornfest Land Dispute

The Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce has released an open letter to the community detailing their side of a dispute that began last year over the grounds where the annual Auburn Cornfest was held. The 20-acre parcel was purchased by the chamber, and later moved to being held jointly by the chamber and the Auburn Jaycees under the Auburn Improvement Management (AIM).

In their letter, the chamber asserts that in 2022, AIM decided the grounds could be used for concerts without approval from the chamber. In July of 2022 a concert was held on the grounds attended by an estimated 9,000 people. The letter alleges that AIM then entered into a 5-year contract with Tailgate N’ Tallboys music festival, again without the chamber’s consent, and soon after a group of new chamber members and non-chamber members attempted to oust the current President and Vice-President.

Afterward, the chamber says a quit claim deed for the property was registered against their will, prompting a criminal investigation that resulted in no charges being filed by the Bay County Prosecutor’s Office. The letter states the chamber is taking legal action to assert it’s 50% ownership of the property.

Last month, plans were announced on the “Auburn Cornfest” Facebook page to hold the event at the Midland Fairgrounds this year, a move the chamber says it opposes.

The full letter from the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce can be found HERE.