Graham, N.C. -- Families love to share stories about their ancestors doing amazing things. However, only one woman in the Triad can say, "My grandfather invented candy corn!"
Marcelaine Ruland's says her grandfather, George Renninger did not like candy, but spent sixty years working in a candy factory in Philadelphia.
"As a child, I wasn't impressed at all. When my dad told me, 'Your grandfather was the one who developed candy corn, I said, 'Yeah, that's nice,'" Ruland said.
Renninger tested his candy recipes on his chickens.
"Finally, one day after he got home and threw the corn to the chickens, they ate it. And, he told my grandmother that he finally got the right combination," Ruland said.
The original candy corn box even included a picture of a chicken. He chose a corn shape to appeal to farmers.
"The trouble is, you start eating candy corn and you don't want to stop," Ruland said.
Ruland's granddaughter, Katie Hodson, loves to keep the family's sweet story alive. "I am guilty of bragging. Most people do not believe me. And, I will call Nana and Nana will tell them," Hodson said.
You may be wondering...Does Ruland get free candy corn?
She told WFMY News 2, "I have been asked that several times. No, absolutely not. I go to the store like everybody else and I buy my candy corn."
On Halloween, Ruland only gives out one treat: candy corn!
WFMY News 2