Cornjerker facts for kids
In the past, before big machines helped farmers, sweet corn was picked by hand. Workers would pull the corn ears from the stalk. They would then remove the leaves, called "shucking." The golden ears were then put into wagons. This old way of harvesting corn was known as "cornjerking." In other places, it was called corn snapping, shucking, or husking. The many people who worked in the fields to pick the crops were known as cornjerkers.
Today, machines do most of the corn picking. This means that hand harvesting is no longer needed. Modern machines help farmers grow more food with less work. Because of this, the word "Cornjerker" isn't used for farming anymore. Instead, it's a special local name.
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The Hoopeston Cornjerkers
Hoopeston, Illinois is famous as the "Sweetcorn Capital of the World." In the 1920s, the term "Cornjerker" became the nickname for the local school's sports teams. This is like how the Pittsburgh Steelers got their name from steel mills.
How the Name Started
A sportswriter named Bob Poisall from the Commercial-News newspaper first used the team name. It started as a joke that just stuck! Back then, team members often worked in the corn fields. This sometimes made their buses late for games. One day, Mr. Poisall was on the bus, waiting to cover a game. He got frustrated and told the team they were "just a bunch of cornjerkers."
Glenn Brasel, who coached Hoopeston High School from 1922 to 1946, liked the name. He thought it would be a good team name. In 1930, an ear of corn first appeared on the team's uniforms. Later, in 1963, the mascot "Jerky" was created. Jerky is a walking ear of corn, and coach Dick Hobbs designed him.
Who Are Cornjerkers Today?
Today, "Cornjerkers" refers to all kinds of students. This includes strong football players, tall basketball players, fast track team members, and cheerleaders. Coaches, teachers, and fans are also part of the Cornjerker family.
Originally, Cornjerkers were only from Hoopeston. One of their rivals was the East Lynn Hornets. But in 1973, the Hoopeston and East Lynn schools joined together. So, the Hornets became Cornjerkers too! Later, other nearby towns like Cheneyville, Wellington, and Rankin also joined. The school district's name then changed to "Hoopeston Area."
On March 16, 1985, the Hoopeston varsity basketball team became very famous. They were ranked as one of the best teams in Illinois. Don Dukes, who was the Mayor of Hoopeston at the time, said that after that weekend, everyone in Illinois would know what a Cornjerker was!
Famous Cornjerkers
Many talented people have been Hoopeston Cornjerkers. Here are a few:
- Thad Matta: He was a Cornjerker basketball star in the 1980s. Later, he became a successful college basketball coach for teams like Ohio State.
- Herb Neathery: He graduated in 1948. Herb played college football at the University of Illinois. He was on the team that won the 1952 Rose Bowl game. The Cleveland Browns even drafted him to play professionally.
- Scott Eells: He graduated in 1975 from Hoopeston-East Lynn High School. Scott played college basketball at Indiana University. He was part of the Indiana Hoosiers team that won the 1975-76 NCAA Championship without losing a single game!
- David Theobald: A 1968 graduate, he played college football for Western Illinois University. David also wrote a book called "Cornjerkers."