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| Alex after a day in the field |
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| Dirty, dirty feet! |
The corn pollinating hit its peak this week. The boys worked a couple 10 hour days in the hot fields -- hanging bags and taking them down and whatever other magic they do to control the pollination of corn plants for Pioneer. It is hot, dirty work. Last year was very, very wet - they were working in standing water and mud most of July. This year has just been HOT. They've had many days in the 90's and a couple over 100. All in the search for a better corn plant.
Nate has been working on "summer crew" this year so he's been working in the fields since right after graduation in June and will end a couple weeks later than the pollinating crews. Alex is in the field for his second year as a pollinator -- he works from shortly after July 4th until the pollinating is over, probably sometime new week.
I think this is just good, honest work -- the kind every teenager should have an "opportunity" to experience early in their working life. The boys like the pay. It's pretty good for teenagers and the overtime and consistent attendance bonuses are especially nice. Nate mostly has college expenses on his mind. I think Alex has settled on a guitar -- he's been learning to play and would like to have one of his own.
I'm so proud of them both -- they've gotten themselves up and ready to go early everyday and have really complained very little about the work. I've loved hearing stories about these young men in the field spontaneously bursting into song, working hard, and pulling pranks on each other. Sounds like it's been a pretty good year.
