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Fall is just around the corner and that means pumpkins, hayrides and corn mazes. One farm in Springfield is offering all those things to celebrate the beginning of fall and the harvest season. KSMU’s Kristian Kriner reports.
The Rutledge-Wilson Farm is celebrating its 2nd Annual “Harvest Fest,” September 26th and 27th.
The farm is a part of the Springfield-Greene County Park system.
It’s been around for over a year and has brought some new attractions to its “Harvest Fest” this year.
Amy Dooley is the park coordinator at the Rutledge-Wilson Farm.
She says the farm is open year round and visitors can see animals like turkeys.
But, “Harvest Fest” is one of their main events. “We have things such as hayrides with Clydesdale horses, which is one of the favorite things most people like to do. We also have our corn maze opening up. It’s in the shape of a scarecrow this year and it’s kind of hard this year. And we have our pick your own pumpkin patch, so anyone who wants to get their pumpkin early this year can come on out,” Dooley said.
Dooley says this year the farm started growing mums that people can buy to decorate their yards or homes.
She says there will be live bluegrass music in the afternoons this weekend.
Dooley says there will be a lot of attractions for kids this year.
“We have corn grinding and its grinding corn the old fashion way and then after you grind the corn you can actually feed our chickens with that,” Dooley said.
She says kids can also make their own scarecrows, get their faces painted or even make a turkey out of a gourd.
Dooley says there are some contests kids can participate in to win prizes.“On Sunday, we have the Mr. Potato Head contest and that’s for kids that are 8-10 years old. We ask that they decorate a real potato and bring it in for the visitors to vote on. On Saturday, we have the best dressed farmer and that’s for kids 7 years and younger and there’s some really great prizes for participating and for winning the contests,” Dooley said.
Dooley says they have contests for adults as well like the biggest produce contest and the most unusual produce contest.
She says there will also be free demonstrations like how to shear a sheep or put on horse shoes.
Dooley says their goal with “Harvest Fest” is to show people that farming can be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.
“Harvest Fest” is Saturday, September 26th from 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday, September 27th from noon to 9 pm at the Rutledge-Wilson Farm.
For KSMU News, I’m Kristian Kriner.