The American Cornhole Organization is bringing the ACO Cornhole Pros to Medford OR and has opened the event to the public.
The ACO Medford Major cornhole tournament is January 31- February 1 at the Rogue Credit Union Community Complex. A Big Blind Draw is scheduled for Friday January 31 at 6:00 pm and is open to the public. The Medford Community can test back yard cornhole skills with others having the same skills in a Pro Cornhole level environment.
“We are thrilled to include Medford as one of the over 40 cities in the ACO Season 20 PRO Tour” said Frank Geers President of American Cornhole LLC. The ACO Medford Major includes events on Friday January 31 including Seniors, Womens, and Juniors competition in the morning, coed at noon, Bag Masters Quads at 3:00 pm, and the open to the public Big Blind Draw at 6:00 pm.
The ACO Medford Tournament Event schedule for Saturday includes ACO World Doubles action beginning 8:00 am, and the ACO World Singles action is an afternoon event beginning 2:00 pm. For more information visit ACO Medford Majors Cornhole Event.
At the turn of the century, cornhole was a simple backyard game, enjoyed by friends and family at tailgate parties or barbecues. Its origins are speculative, but what is certain is that in 2004, cornhole’s journey toward becoming a global sport began. It all started in Cincinnati, Ohio, when Frank Geers, a marketing visionary, spotted the game at an NFL tailgate zone. Instantly, he saw its potential—not just as a game, but as a sport with mass appeal. From that moment, Geers began to craft a plan to bring cornhole to a wider audience, eventually reaching all corners of the globe.
In 2005, the American Cornhole Organization (ACO) was born, bringing structure and organization to the game. The ACO standardized cornhole equipment, cornhole rules, and gameplay, creating a foundation for players and tournaments across the country. As the governing body of the sport, the ACO began its mission to develop players and grow the cornhole community. Today, the ACO celebrates its 20th season, with tournaments hosted in the U.S. and even Europe. Still, the ACO continues to innovate and improve cornhole, introducing new twists on the game and creating new opportunities for players at every level.
In the early days of cornhole, the bags were filled with corn kernels, but this created a few challenges. The corn was prone to mold, break down, and attract animals, all of which hindered the game’s consistency. Enter the ACO’s innovation: resin pellet filler. This new material replaced the corn, offering a more durable and uniform experience. Additionally, the ACO introduced "two-sided" bags, giving players more control and adding complexity to the game. This innovation paved the way for a multi-million-dollar industry centered around cornhole equipment, from bags to boards. The ACO also established high-quality standards for boards, scoring equipment, court dimensions, and rules, setting the benchmark for competition worldwide.
With better equipment came better competition. The ACO introduced singles play, which had previously been dominated by doubles teams, allowing individual players to showcase their skills. This led to the creation of the ACO World Singles and World Doubles Championships, which became the backbone of the nationwide cornhole tour. Today, the ACO hosts thousands of regional tournaments and more than 40 major tournaments across the U.S., offering large prize purses ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each weekend. All these events build up to the annual ACO World Championships, where players of all ages and abilities compete for the coveted title of "King" or "Queen" of Cornhole.
In addition to the competitive tournaments, the ACO offers fun, inclusive events like the Worlds Tailgator Tournament, aimed at social players and backyard enthusiasts. The ACO Lifetimers Tournament, which offers free lifetime membership to those who have an ACO tattoo, is another unique aspect of the cornhole community. As of now, around 160 players have committed to this lifelong dedication to the sport. These players also could earn Pro Status and compete in ACO Pro Series SKINS Cornhole tournaments, adding a unique twist to traditional gameplay and elevating the sport to new heights.
Terms like "frame games," "airmail box," and "tier play" have become familiar to cornhole players everywhere, as the ACO has pioneered these concepts to refine gameplay skills and make the sport accessible to players of all levels. Whether a novice or a seasoned pro, the ACO provides a platform for everyone to improve and enjoy the game.
Over the last two decades, the ACO has expanded cornhole’s reach beyond the court and into the media. It has been featured on ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in 2013 and SportsCenter, with coverage of the World Championships in 2015. The ACO has appeared in major news outlets like The Wall Street Journal in 2007, broadcast on Stadium Sports, provided the 2010 Cornhole: The Movie with ACO sanctioned boards, bags, and governing body rules. Frank Geers “The Cornhole Dude” had his own cameo appearance in the movie. The ACO formed a high-profile partnership with the 2025 publication of the Fox Chapel’s Cornhole Cookbook, has a robust presence on YouTube, @AmericanCornhole, social media, and its own podcast, TACO (Talkin’ ACO), the longest running cornhole podcast, and Hole Nation – hosted by Reality TV star Rich Pyle. The ACO has firmly established cornhole as a cultural phenomenon. In 2020, the Mayor of the City of Columbia, SC declared the final Saturday in July as ACO World Cornhole Day, further cementing its place in sports history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0DCg9siTFY
The ACO’s reach continues to grow, expanding its influence to adaptive sports communities, senior games, and international partnerships with countries like the UK, China, Canada, and Australia. The future of cornhole looks brighter than ever, and with its continued growth, the ACO’s biggest days are still to come. As Frank Geers, the "Cornhole Dude," says: "We Are Cornhole!"
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For more information about ACO Medford Major, contact the company here:
ACO Medford Major
Michael "Fin" Walter
513 965 8687
Play@AmericanCornhole.com
American Cornhole
7832 Glendale Milford Rd
Camp Dennison, Ohio 45111
United States
