By Holly Martin
The weather is getting cooler, and it’s the best time of the year to go pumpkin picking or to get lost in a corn maze. R and J Farms has exactly what you’re looking for to fulfill all your fall activity desires. Every weekend, you can purchase tickets to have a whole day of fun with their hayrides, corn maze, jump pad, concession stand, farm stand, and pony rides. Then you can finish your day with an ice cream sandwich from the food truck that is on-site every Saturday.
The hayrides to the pumpkin-filled field are up and running. The hayrides fill with families and friends all excited for the short ride to the pumpkin patch. Once in the field, everyone gets off and is given as much time as needed to find the perfect pumpkin.
Ryanna Giang carefully inspected each pumpkin. “It’s so hard to pick just one,” says Giang. “This one is pretty cute.” She ripped a round, bright orange pumpkin off the vine. It was her first time at R and J Farms. “I’ll have to come back with my boyfriend. He can carry all the pumpkins.”
There are little stands set up with pumpkins and flowers for you to take pictures with. A dozen pictures later and pumpkins in hand, you then board the next hayride back to the car.
Next on the list of fall fun at R and J Farms is to defeat the corn maze. This year, R and J Farms has added a little game while you complete the maze. When you give your ticket to enter the maze you are given a small game piece that looks a lot like the popular board game Clue. Amongst the corn are clues to help you solve your farmer detective game.
We spent well over 30 minutes trying to find clues and our way out. Other groups would walk past talking about what they found on their board and what was missing. Finally, after what felt like miles of corn we made it to the end, but we never figured out “who done it” in our game.
The jumping pad is always filled with kids racing from one end to the other and trying to touch the sky. The ponies were waiting for each small child to climb on top. The pony ride involves taking a few laps around a circle before each pony is passed off to the next eager rider. Laughter fills the farm as families take pictures and have fun.
We took pictures of our own before heading to the food stand to get some water and candy. We couldn’t leave without grabbing some cookie ice cream sandwiches to go.
It’s safe to say R and J Farms will be a frequent destination for us to visit all October long. Ticket prices vary, and combination tickets are available. Be sure to check their Facebook for times and daily updates.
