On behalf of The World’s Only Corn Palace and the City of Mitchell, I want to welcome you to the 2026 Dakota Oyate Challenge and wish all of the team’s, schools, and fans much success in the coming year. Last year’s atmosphere and energy was amazing. What a fantastic group of fans and players. They Hand Games were a highlight for me during the event and we look forward to the Lakota Language Games this year. See you all soon.  

 

Mitchell’s first Corn Palace was built in 1892, conceived as a gathering place where city residents and their rural neighbors could enjoy a fall festival with extraordinary entertainment. That tradition continues more than 130 years later with music, entertainment, sports and the addition of the 2026 Challenge Tournament. Thank you for being part of our history, and best of luck to you all.

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Fun Facts:

 

• This Corn Palace built in 1921 hosted the South Dakota State Basketball tournament in its first year. 

• Each year more than 200 basketball games are played under these corn murals.  We hope the athletes make special memories playing in the Corn Palace, noted by USA Today as “The Boston Garden of the Midwest”.  

• Two of our 2024 Famous South Dakotan murals depict Olympic Gold Medalist and Oglala Lakota Billy Mills from Pine Ridge and Yanktonai Indian artist Oscar Howe from Crow Creek. Both created a legacy in South Dakota and at the World’s Only Corn Palace. 

 

Thank you again for attending this year’s event, we appreciate you coming to Mitchell and look forward to seeing you all soon.

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Dave Sietsema

 Director, The World’s Only Corn Palace.