About 7,000 people detassel corn in Nebraska each year, and about 80% of those people are teenagers.
Fifteen-year-olds Josey Maas, Ellianna and Anna Buchli, and Gabe Villamonte are part of this number. Though all of them are the same age, the Buchlis are on their third year of detasseling while Villamonte is on his second and Maas just started this year.
All four work for the same company, NATS Detasseling.
NATS stands for ‘Not Afraid To Sweat’ and was founded in 1998 by Dawn Buell. She wanted to make a detasseling company that would not only provide high-quality work for farmers and seed companies, but also help young teens grow through hard summer work.
NATS prides itself on its community and atmosphere and is the only detasseling company in Nebraska to be awarded the Integrity Award by the Better Business Bureau.
While it’s only her first year working with NATS, Maas says that detasseling has already taught her a lot, such as patience and that she can do hard things if she sets her mind to it. Villamonte and the Buchlis shared similar sentiments that detasseling has taught them perseverance, tolerance, and that hard work always pays off.
The Buchlis have also found lessons in leadership as third-year detasselers and squad leaders. And of course, the job has taught all four teens the importance of a steady sleep schedule and a good night’s rest.
As many rural teens and residents know, detasseling is no easy job. Maas, Villamonte, and the Buchlis wake up between 4 and 5:30 a.m. to get on the 6 a.m. bus. They spend around six to seven hours in the field before returning in the early afternoon – muddy, tired, and peppered with mosquito bites.
Luckily, though, the pay makes up for it, and all four teens are happy to have had this kind of work available, especially when no other jobs are available to kids their age. The job has taught them a lot about work ethic, introduced them to many friends and given them plenty of fun memories of lost shoes and singing together as they work.
However, it’s not just teens that find work in detasseling. Many college students also spend their summers in the fields to make extra money. One such student is Cassie Schlautman, a junior at Wayne State pursuing journalism and who’s been with NATS since she was 13 years old.
Detasseling was her first job, and Schlautman says that having work available at such a young age was great for learning about teamwork and effort. And now as a supervisor/bus leader, Schlautman has learned a lot about the responsibilities of leadership, what with being responsible for the work and safety of about 30 detasselers each day.
Schlautman is especially glad to have learned these kinds of lessons with NATS. After years with the company, she believes the commitment to safety is what really makes the organization stand out. Of course, every detasseling company wants to make sure their detasselers are safe, but Shlautman says NATS really prioritizes safety both physically and socially.
Leaders give safety talks each morning on a different topic, and detasselers are really taught to listen to their bodies and whether they need food, water, or rest, no matter what.
Overall, NATS fosters a strong and encouraging community to build up its teen detasselers, who will likely work right up until the first day of school.
As for next summer, it’s still up in the air as to whether these four teens will return to the fields or find other jobs. Regardless of what they choose to do, Maas, Villamonte, and the Buchlis will always be proud of the work they’ve put in and know that whatever job comes next will be a breeze compared to a hot summer of detasseling.
