Sweet Corn Sales for Spencer: Youngster forgoes profits in support of best friend
Submitted photo
Spencer Hazelton (middle) has some fun by giving his friend, Spencer Thorsland, and little sister, Kyree, rabbit ears as they sell sweetcorn last week.
An estimated 3,000 ears of sweet corn sold by a Brandon family is helping out another Brandon family.
When the Hazelton family learned of 9-year-old Spencer Thorsland’s recent diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, they knew they had to do something. After all, the two families – who both moved here four years ago – are the best of friends and their sons – both named Spencer – are the best of buddies.
Erica Hazelton, who often commuted with Lori Huml to their jobs in Pipestone, Minn., asked her friend what they could do to help them.
“It was one of those times when I didn’t know what to ask,” Erica said.
But Huml had an immediate answer: To pray for her to be able to balance her career as the family navigates their way through her son’s cancer diagnosis.
So Hazelton did as her friend requested, and by the next morning, God presented her an avenue in which to help the Huml family. She received a call fromher in-laws to donate pick-up loads of sweet corn to sell, with the intent of directing all of the profits to Spencer Thorsland’s cause. A third pick-up load of sweet corn came from Hazelton’s uncle Curt’s farm by Lamberton, Minn.
“It got sold faster than we could get it here,” Erica said. “The community was amazing, and this is where social media is good. We were busy, and honestly, I couldn’t get pulled into town fast enough, as people were already literally lined up to buy.”
The Hazelton’s put a $5 price on the dozen ears of corn, but Erica said they received an average of $20 per dozen.
“People are good,” Erica said.
The story gets a little sweeter, though.
Originally, Spencer Hazelton had worked out an agreement with is grandparents to buy sweet corn from them for a $1.50 a dozen and then sell the corn for a profit to serve as a life lesson in how to manage money.
Although he had personal plans for his profits, he wanted to do something kind for his buddy and made the decision to give all the proceeds to him.
“He even put all of his money from his own piggy bank in, too,” Erica added.
“This family has just embraced that little boy,” Lori Huml said of the Hazeltons.
Spencer’s story touched others, too, like the Pipestone Fire Department, who helped by plucking cobs of corn from the stalks before Erica arrived at the field.
“So, it’s not just Brandon,” she said.
After three nights of doing brisk business corn sales, kind deeds for the Huml family continue to flow, and includes Spencer Universe wrist bands that are available for sale at both Brandon Ace and Pizza Ranch. Suggested price is $5 or free will offering.
The bracelet sales are being managed by the Hazeltons as well.
Erica said her son, Spencer, has asked several questions about his friend, Spencer’s health.
“Some of them you can’t answer,” she said, adding that her children both say a prayer for him each night.
This past weekend, the two Spencers were able to spend some time together doing what they love doing: gaming.
“They’re boys,” she said, “who just want to be normal boys.”
