Alexandria, VA – The first thought that comes to most people’s minds when the word “cornhole” enters the conversation are fond memories of their college days holding solo cups filled with the mediocre adult beverage of their choice.
For Jess Davis, founder of Washington, D.C.’s first and only amateur cornhole league dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming space for Queer, Trans, Intersex, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (QTIBIPOC), the game is about much more than tossing beanbags. It’s about building community—a place where people can connect, unwind and leave the stresses of the week behind.
This year, ChocCity Cornhole is celebrating its 5-year anniversary, and I had the pleasure of experiencing firsthand the welcoming camaraderie that Jess has created. This brief interaction immediately made me curious to learn the origin of this one-of-a-kind social league and led me to an engaging interview with the self-proclaimed hobbyist and community organizer.
Zebra: How did you first get involved with cornhole?
Jess: Before 2017, I knew nothing about cornhole. My first encounter was when I went to a work event with some coworkers and they started throwing these bags across this bar, they were really into it. I was like, what is this game?
Fast forward four years later, I was hanging with my friends at a local bar and noticed people were playing cornhole and instead of just watching, my friends and I hopped on the board and we started playing. It clicked for me that this was fun and something I wanted to play more frequently.
Zebra: What inspired you to start a cornhole league and organize tournaments?
Jess: As a self-proclaimed collector of hobbies, after playing for that first time in that bar with my friends, the next day I went into research mode to learn more about the game. I bought some boards and bags and gathered my crew to play at local parks and such, as Anacostia Park or the National Mall in DC. At first, we really did not know what we were doing when it came to playing by cornhole regulations.
As I slowly began to be more serious, I decided to take the leap and join a cornhole league in the area. My goal was to learn different skills and techniques to bring back to my friends so we all could be better players and that lead into the creation of ChocCity Cornhole.
Zebra: Why did you name your league ChocCity Cornhole?
Jess: I wanted to pay homage to DC by creating a noticeable link to the city’s black history. As a transplant, my main reason for moving to the DMV was so I just could be around more black people, who were moving and grooving and focused on empowering our community.
Zebra: What is the one thing you wish people knew about cornhole?
Jess: That cornhole is open to all! There are tons of cornhole players with different body types and abilities who are dominating the sport. And I highly encourage everyone to give it a try for themselves.
Zebra readers can keep up to date with Jess Davis and ChocCity Cornhole on her website (www.choccitycornhole.com) or by following ChocCity Cornhole on social media, @choccitycornhole.
