Detasseling Teaches Work Ethics As Kids Cash In On Corn

By Dylan Widger
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It has become a work ethic builder and a good way to make some extra money for kids in rural America.

For two to three weeks every summer, hundreds of kids-ranging from 12 years old to upwards of 20 years old-are working long hours starting early in the morning detasseling corn plants.

The crew, based out of Neligh, is contracted by NBS Detasseling, a company based out of Seward, NE. They load the bus in Neligh early and the morning and set off for fields across northeast Nebraska.

How Does The Detasseling Process Work?

Spencer Kester removes the tassel from a corn plant

The rows of corn plants are spaced out to have one row of taller male plants for every four rows of shorter female plants.

The process for detasseling a field of corn plants is simple.

First, a detasseling machine goes through the field and detassels all the corn plants it can. However, the machine can only detassel about 70 percent of the corn plants in the field.

This is where the workers come in. They sweep through the field row by row and pick out any tassels that the machine could not get earlier. After the workers go through the field, over 99 percent of the corn plants are detasseled. On average, in a field of 2,500 "female" corn plants, only seven can remain tasseled.

The tassels are removed so the corn plant does not pollinate with itself. The tassel is the "male" part of the corn plant. The "female" part of the corn plant are the ears and the silk that wraps them.The machine spaces out so one row is left tasseled for every four rows removed. Spacing these out allow the corn plants to pollinate with a "male" corn plant of another species, creating a hybrid corn plant in the field. In order for the corn plants to produce hybrids consistently throughout the field, the 99 percent goal has to be met.

What Is Detasseling Like?

The detasseling season lasts about three weeks starting in early July. Bearing rain ponchos, multiple layers of clothing and water jugs, the kids get on a bus and are on the road at 5:15 in the morning.

The workday normally starts at 5:45 a.m. and will go to 1 p.m. in the afternoon. However, if mother nature is not on their side, the day may not go a smoothly as planned.

On the morning of July 15, the group sat in Cornlea waiting out lighting from a passing thunderstorm. The rain didn't stop them; however, as they were out in the field as soon as the lightning had passed.

The mud in the field adds some extra weight to their clothing as the walk through the rows, but it isn't enough of a deterrent for the kids to turn away.

The kids set out into the fields, cleaning up what is left behind from the detasseler. The biggest struggle for the kids is the workout they get from walking.

They walk one pass along the rows and then walk back through, making sure no tassels were missed.

According to Nate Metschke, crew leader for the Neligh-based crew, this adds up to a lot of time on their feet.

"On most days, the kids will walk around 8-10 miles in total," Metschke said.

Ethan Gregory is caked with mud from head to toe after a long day of detasseling. But he's still wearing a smile.

The rain and mud didn't stop Rachel Higgins from enjoying her time detasseling either.

Why Should Someone Detassel?

Zachary Chance and Dillon Smith, both of Neligh, have detasseled for 7 and 10 years, respectively.

With all the work and time that goes into detasseling, one may wonder why someone would want to detassel.

With detasseling comes many incentives for young people. One of the biggest reasons for teens to detassel is the income. In just a three week time, many kids can make over $1,000. This number varies, however, as the income is not set for each person.  

Instead, the worker is paid for every row they detassel. According to Zachary Chance, a seasoned veteran of detasseling, "Many kids will start out making close to $400, but as they stick with it, they will start improving and making closer to $1,000.​"

Another reason many kids decide to detassel is the workout and the experience. With a worker walking many miles a day, the constant exercise helps keep their bodies in physical shape. Also, many kids who detassel like working in the outdoors, and see detasseling as a way to make quick money doing something they like. It is hard work, but for many of them, the benefits outweigh the negatives.

There are many challenges that come with detasseling. For someone who is not in physical shape, the workout one gets by detasseling may seem grueling. The detasseling day starts early, which proves to be a challenge for many kids. With the summer break, many lose their routine of waking up early to get ready for school. With the detasseling season taking place in July, many workers view the early mornings as a way of preparing themselves for the upcoming school year.

Another factor that can be a negative is height. For many younger workers, the corn plants are taller than they are. This makes for some struggle for the shorter workers. Being a detasseler for many years, Chance had figured out the biggest challenges, at least for him. "Chafing, blisters and waking up."

One of the highest regarded reasons for kids to detassel does not come in a physical form. Metschke said one of the biggest benefits appears in another way.

"I think that if you are going to be successful in this world, you have to have a strong work ethic," Metschke said. "There is not a better way for a young person to learn work ethic than to walk up and down corn fields and pull tassels. I truly think in this world that if you can detassel, you can do anything."