What to Bring
Work Clothes
Options in clothing are essential and having more than one change of clothes for a given day is preferable. In the morning it is often cool and the corn is soaked with dew and by the afternoon, you could have full sunlight and temperatures in the mid to upper 90's. Corn leaves are abrasive and can cut up the areas of your body that you leave exposed, so you'll want to cover up. A trip (or several) to the thrift store prior to the season is recommended - these are clothes (and shoes) that may wear out over the course of the season, so buying used is a not a bad idea. Some notable clothing items to acquire include the following -
Long-sleeved, light-colored, work shirts. Cotton, or a light, sturdy, breathable material is ideal. Sun shirts for fishing and hiking are good as well. Make sure that the sleeves are plenty long so that they do not ride up over the course of the work day - you'll want to be able to tuck them in and tape them to your work gloves without leaving a gap where your wrist is exposed.
Long pants, loose fitting, light and sturdy. Khaki pants or scrub bottoms work fine. Yoga leggings or even skirts work well also.
Shoes - I'd recommend having two pair each for both mud and dry days, four pair total. Shoes tend to blow out over the course of the season and sometimes a mid-day change between fields can be a lifesaver. Comfortable hikers, runners or old sneakers are fine. For muddy days, cleats can be nice. Just make sure that your shoes are closed toe - that is a requirement. Also, preferably well-broken in beforehand so that you don't end up with blisters! Comfort is king - if you notice rubbing or tightness when you walk in them then you are really going to notice it after 10 miles on hard, uneven ground.
Lots of socks - plan on going through two pair a day. I like thick, calf-height wool hiking socks - wool actually performs well in heat and wet both and holds up well to the intensive walking. Cotton socks are fine too though - they just tend to wear thin eventually. I find that I tend to get more blisters with thin socks than with thick ones.
Hiking Gators - Not at all required, however, I think these are a solid recommendation. With all the walking, these will keep mud, leaves, rocks and other particles from getting inside the top of your shoes. They will also protect your shoe laces which will quickly get gummed up with all the dirt and mud.
Hats - A full brim hat is what you want, preferably breathable and with a brim that is not floppy so that it doesn't impede your vision. Straw hats work great. Also, not a bad idea to have a chin strap for windy days.
Bandanas and/or tee-shirts - to cover your face. Often we will be in tall corn and it is advisable to wear something to protect your nose and ears. The trick I like best for this is to pull a t-shirt over your head so it covers your nose and ears.
Rain gear - this is mainly useful for mornings when a heavy dew will generally be on the corn. Absent rain gear, you'll quickly be soaked and if it is even a little cool out, it can get chilly pretty quick. There are times when it is useful for actual rain, as well. A rain jacket and rain pants works fine. Some people use a trash bag, but I don't see how that does any good tbh.
Other Recommended Field Items
Here is a basic list of items you'll probably want to bring out to the field with you each day. There are a few grocery stores in Onawa and Whiting, however, the selection is not great and they are relatively expensive so it is a good idea to do your shopping before coming to camp. There will be time during the season to go up to Sioux City where you can find more shopping options. Here are some good items to consider acquiring if you don't already have them -
Non-perishable food items such as nuts, trail mix, canned tuna, canned soups, crackers, energy bars, etc. Don't bother bringing anything perishable up with you - you can buy that in Onawa once you get settled into camp.
Duct tape - you'll use this pretty much everyday to tape your gloves to your sleeves, however, it can also come in handy for a variety of other situations.
Emergen-C - the Champaign of electrolyte supplements. This is battle tested and can be a life saver on a hot day when you have been sweating. Probably a packet or two at least for every work day.
A stainless steel insulated water bottle - you can totally get by without one - a simple Gatorade bottle will serve just fine, however, this will keep cold ice all day in direct sunlight which is pretty handy. Cool water will be available at all times in the fields on my truck.
A basic sewing kit for mending clothes and other items.
A basic first-aid kit - blisters and hot spots tend to form over days of walking and need to be cared for. You may get other cuts, scrapes, and bug bites that need attention. Make sure that you have a good triple antibiotic ointment to stave off infections. If left untreated, a little hotspot can develop into a major infection that can ruin your season.
Sunscreen - pretty essential when the sun is blazing. Any exposed skin will burn pretty quickly and on some days you can even burn through your shirt. Thinksport is my personal favorite flavor, but you do you.
Sunglasses - eye protection is required in the field to protect your eyes from the corn. Safety glasses are provided, however, you may want to bring your own sunglasses to use instead of the safety glasses. Just make sure that there is some protection on the sides to keep corn leaves out.
Clotrimazole Antifungal Cream - hot days, sweat, and miles of walking can quickly lead to chafing and sever chafing can be a season-ending occurrence. Some people use Gold Bond for combatting this, but I find that treating and pre-treating with a clotrimazole cream keeps chafing under control.
Sharpies - you'll need one of these everyday during firsts for marking the tag at the front of your block. These seem to work best on wet tags.
A sturdy power bank - useful for keeping your devices charged up when an outlet isn't nearby.
Some Camping Items to Consider Bringing
You are free to stay where ever you choose, however, most years the majority of the crew will opt to camp together. Here is a list of some handy camping items to bring. This is by no means a comprehensive list. Bring whatever items you'll need to camp comfortably for several weeks.
A tent - some people choose to sleep in their cars, however, a tent tend to offer good protection from bugs at night. I don't recommend going to big - a three person tent with a vestibule is plenty large for extended camping for one person. Large tents tend to catch wind like a sail and I can almost guarantee that we will have at least one storm with 25+ mph gusting winds. You want a tent that won't get blown down and broken in a wind storm. Also make sure your tent is staked down for the same reasons.
A ground pad - lots of people use inflatable mattresses. I like therm-a-rest foam camping pads. For years, I just slept on the ground, which is not too bad, however, I wouldn't recommend it. A good sleeping pad will give you as good a nights rest as a bed, which you will need with the long work days.
A light weight sleeping bag - there is considerable variance in the night time temperatures which can range from the lower 50s all the way to the lower 80s. Most nights are very comfortable, however, you'll want something that will keep you warm on unusually chilly nights and can work out when the nights are warm as well. You may want a pillow as well.
A camping fan - good for the warm still nights. Lots of people like sleeping under a fan as well. By the way - camping gear is getting insanely good these days. This camping fan doubles as a power bank and a lantern. Mind blown...back in my day we didn't have these new fangled devices.
A headlamp - good for setting up in the dark with your hands free. I like the ones that are rechargeable and have a red light to keep your night vision.
A few tarps - you can use these as a ground cloth to protect the bottom of your tent (careful not to have the edges outside of your tent though, as it will funnel water under your tent and soak your gear). You can also use it for additional shade, or to cover up your gear to keep it dry during a rain storm.
A mesh screened canopy tent - some years this is not necessary, however, when the bugs are bad, this can be a lifesaver!
A camp stove. I like propane because it is cheap and easy to acquire.
Whatever cooking items you need - a pot, a pan, coffee pot, plates, spatula, kitchen knife, cutting board, and silverware. Also tin foil and a dish washing brush and dish soap with a basin for cleaning up.
A cooler and a dry box. No need to go crazy here. Just something to keep your perishable food/dry goods cold/dry and protected from critters.
A camp chair and a table. Chair highly recommended. Table optional, but certainly nice to have.
Bug spray - I like the all natural stuff, or you can pick something with deet that actually works ;)
Soap, sandals, and a towel for showering.
Your toiletry kit - toothbrush, mouth wash. Any meds you may need, such has a antihistamines or NSAIDs.
Rope or parachute cord for dry lines and hanging things.
A camping knife, small saw, and/or a hatchet.
A swim suit - there is a public pool and some nearby locations for swimming. Great way to cool off after a hot day.