Mason Wadd continues annual sweet corn sales

Located in front of the Waseca Bomgaars’ parking lot is a small-scale business labeled “Mason’s Sweet Corn.” The proprietor of the stand and the man working it himself is Mason Wadd, 17; he’s been selling his corn for the past 5 years.

Wadd lives about 5 miles north of Waseca, and is a senior at Waseca High School. The corn is his full-time job, but he sometimes volunteers out at FarmAmerica or pulls in summer hours at Morgan’s Meat Market. Right now, he’s just saving up for college. His sister Kloe used to sell sweet corn also but she’s off to college in Crookston. Wadd hasn’t applied for any colleges, but  says he still has time since he’s only beginning his senior year. When pressed about what he would like to major in during college, he says he’s uncertain, but is leaning toward writing or psychology.

Each day from 10 a.m. till the corn is gone, Wadd is out manning Mason’s Sweet Corn: The price is $8 for a dozen ears, $5 for a half dozen. But Wadd doesn’t limit himself to the parking lot in front of Bomgaars, he also sells his sweet corn every Saturday at the Waseca Farmers Market. There is also another produce stand in front of his house in the country, but that is on the honor system because Wadd can’t be in two places at once.

Because it was a little bit after noon, his friend Pablo Alvarez pulled up in his car and got out eating a Dairy Queen ice cream. In his other hand was a bag filled with Wadd’s lunch. Devoted to his sweet corn business, Wadd said he didn’t leave out of fear he might miss or inconvenience a customer.

Said Wadd, “With the weather this year, it got a little tricky. Wednesday through Sunday I move 60-70 dozen [ears] per day, average. Mondays and Tuesdays it’s much slower, 15-16 dozen.” He goes on to mention his dad helps some with the work and his mother, Kari Wadd, who is also program coordinator for FarmAmerica, helps when she can.

Wadd said that when it comes to sweet corn for himself, he prefers something with spice, “Just butter, salt and pepper doesn’t do it for me. I need Lawry’s Seasoned Salt or something like chili and lime.” When asked about extracurricular activities at school, he said he likes theater and speech. He then said “Deadpool & Wolverine” was the best out of the three Deadpool movies. He hasn’t seen “Alien: Romulus” yet, but he’s looking forward to it.

The Mason’s Sweet Corn stand sits in the Bomgaars parking lot overnight, Wadd said, “We bought it from a guy who was retiring [and] didn’t need it anymore.” From field to tote, from tote to Mason’s Sweet Corn stand, Mason Wadd is marketing his product Monday through Friday along State Street North. Saturdays he and his sweet corn can be found at the Waseca Farmers Market at the county fairgrounds.