WATERMAN – It’s a hot, sweaty, buggy and sometimes itchy job that generations of DeKalb County teens have done.

This summer was no different. St. Louis-based agriculture company Monsanto hired more than 120 workers to hand-pollinate corn at its Waterman research site, 8350 Minnegan Road, Waterman.

Most of the workers are 14 to 18 years old. They sweat out in the fields, methodically shoot bagging and self-pollinating No. 2 yellow dent corn for about four weeks each summer.

“It can get hot and dirty, and you’re outside all day long,” said Judd Maxwell, corn breeder at Monsanto’s Waterman research site. “But growing up in this area, most kids understand what we’re trying to do and pick up on the techniques very quickly.”

He added: “Since the 1920s, corn has been inbred and pollinated this way.”

The goal is to develop inbreds with the best genetic packages – increasing yield and better agronomics, Maxwell said. The best experimental hybrids are then tested the next year.

The workers start about 7 a.m. and work until about 3 p.m., but some days go longer. Breaks are built into the day. By its very nature, the work isn’t glamorous, but it is a job that most people can do and the barrier to entry is low.

“We try to make it as fun as possible,” Maxwell said.

That includes pizza parties, T-shirts and other swag.

Holly Rood, 18, of Shabbona recently spent her fourth summer working at the Waterman research site. She doesn’t mind the work – in fact, she thinks it has an undeserved reputation.

“It’s not as tough as people think,” she said. “I get to see my friends and hang out every day. It’s a nice way to make money in the summer.”

Each summer, the job gives her a chance to reconnect with friends. They talk, sing and dance in the fields.

“We make it fun,” she said.

Maddy Jouris, 20, of DeKalb has been working at Monsanto for six years. While the job isn’t easy, it can be fun, especially with friends.

“It’s a fun work environment, you can listen to music and you get to be outside,” she said. “And you meet a lot of friends.”

Josh Elliot, 21, of Waterman likes the variety. And like others, he said working with good people makes all the difference.

“I really like the people here,” he said. “It’s a fun atmosphere.”

For Monsanto, safety is the top priority. There’s training, an on-site nurse and a lot of water and other drinks to help the young workers stay hydrated. They also have special hats, sleeves and other protective equipment, Maxwell said.

“We’re very safety conscious,” Maxwell said.

On the hottest days, the workers will start early and take more frequent breaks. But missing a day isn’t an option because Mother Nature doesn’t take a break.