An Enterprise Services Center employee, Robin Nowakowski a Supervisory Accountant in the Administrative Payments Section (AMK-311) knows what it’s like to put a hard day in the office and a hard day out in the field. For nearly five decades, her family’s farm sections off about 25 acres and opens its doors to customers who desire to purchase freshly grown sweet corn. Their farm located in McLoud, Oklahoma, has established a strong legacy of community, customer service and plant-based golden goodness, corn.

The farmers start picking corn at four o’clock in the morning and activities include shanking, bagging, and selling bags of corn (with each bag containing 40-45 ears). July 4th wrapped up this year’s season, as hundreds of Oklahomans lined up for this sweet summer tradition.

The tradition started when Robin’s husband and his sister wanted to earn money to purchase fireworks for the 4th of July. Back then, and for many years thereafter, the corn was picked by hand. The customers were mainly family members, but word spread, and eventually the barn was full of customers wanting to taste what was known as some of the best corn in the county!

Like many had to do in 2020, the family implemented changes to keep people safe as they came to purchase corn that summer. Rather than lining up in the barn, the family implemented a "drive through service," which turned out to be a huge success. Now, customers can sit in the comfort of their air-conditioned vehicles as they wait in line for what can sometimes be hours.

Rumor has it, 2023 may have been the last year for sweet corn due to the farmers’ tending to their other crops. Sweet corn was typically considered a "just for fun" activity. Robin expressed, "we’re hopeful that 2024 will allow another chance to serve our friends and family "just for fun!""