Unfortunately yes it was under minimum wage. Not sure if Illinois ever changed the law but employers could pay less for teens under 16 years old. When I did it I was 12 years old and was paid $4.10 per hour (no time clock) and minimum wage was $5.25 at that time
One day was enough for me! I went to bed that night and still felt like I was bumping up and down on that machine. It's definitely hard work in the hot sun.
THIS is how it was for me. Seeing cornfields as soon as I shut my eyes at night. Up at dark, 12 hours of pullin tassles, go home, eat, go to bed, get up and do it again. Just like migrant workers in CA. Seasonal work.
I detasseled from 1986-1991 and wrote a song about "Detasslin Corn". Just search for "You Looked Pretty (Detasslin' Corn). I remember when I was 14 this girl was on my crew and she was covered in corn rash and mud and I thought to myself "dang, she looks pretty good!"🤣
I actually enjoyed doing this job. Although the cuts from the corn and the dew on the leaves in the morning did not mix well.....oh and also the sun burn by the time we were done! lol!
The corn rash was REAL. You'd get soaked in the morning and burnt by the end of the day. Spiders were everywhere! Worst job ever, but I got the best tan of my life. Nowadays, they wear long sleeves and protective hats and safety glasses. I still can't stand the smell of wet corn stalks.
When I was around twelve years old they came to the school and told everybody if they needed a job they could detassel corn this was like 1972 now we didn't get to ride in the basket but for a lot of kids it was their first chance at making money matter of fact it's when I had to go get a Social Security number to go to work and this was in Moberly Missouri I'm an Okie but my dad had a job down there for a couple years and I went to school down there and here in Oklahoma there wasn't no detasseling corn it was bucking hay
The comment about seeing corn in your dreams is 100% true. It was a terrible job that paid less than minimum wage when I did it back in the 90's.
No, it was never less than minimum wage.
Unfortunately yes it was under minimum wage. Not sure if Illinois ever changed the law but employers could pay less for teens under 16 years old. When I did it I was 12 years old and was paid $4.10 per hour (no time clock) and minimum wage was $5.25 at that time
much the same with roguing
One day was enough for me! I went to bed that night and still felt like I was bumping up and down on that machine. It's definitely hard work in the hot sun.
Aww the good old days when I was younger
THIS is how it was for me. Seeing cornfields as soon as I shut my eyes at night. Up at dark, 12 hours of pullin tassles, go home, eat, go to bed, get up and do it again. Just like migrant workers in CA. Seasonal work.
You ended up with about $400 after 2 and half weeks of work.
I worked my butt off doing this! If this is around for my kids they will do it also!
I detasseled from 1986-1991 and wrote a song about "Detasslin Corn". Just search for "You Looked Pretty (Detasslin' Corn). I remember when I was 14 this girl was on my crew and she was covered in corn rash and mud and I thought to myself "dang, she looks pretty good!"🤣
I actually enjoyed doing this job. Although the cuts from the corn and the dew on the leaves in the morning did not mix well.....oh and also the sun burn by the time we were done! lol!
The corn rash was REAL. You'd get soaked in the morning and burnt by the end of the day. Spiders were everywhere! Worst job ever, but I got the best tan of my life. Nowadays, they wear long sleeves and protective hats and safety glasses. I still can't stand the smell of wet corn stalks.
are you serious??? There’s spiders??? Do you get them on you or no ?
When I detassled corn in 60's corn was at least 6 ft high. No machines
Literally, using kids for cheap labor. Not cool!!! I did this and I'm still mad about it. LOL
They were, and are, paid relatively well, and it's totally legal.
Did anyone twist your arm to work?
can i use this footage in a music video
When I was around twelve years old they came to the school and told everybody if they needed a job they could detassel corn this was like 1972 now we didn't get to ride in the basket but for a lot of kids it was their first chance at making money matter of fact it's when I had to go get a Social Security number to go to work and this was in Moberly Missouri I'm an Okie but my dad had a job down there for a couple years and I went to school down there and here in Oklahoma there wasn't no detasseling corn it was bucking hay
If you came from my tiktok comment on Kevin's video: Hello!!
There giving us $8:50 an hour
It was good pay for the time.