Aye, Cap’n, ’tis the candidates you see shaking swords in the corn. Prepare all hands on deck to pick their poison.
As an ag retailer, your role is to help your grower-customers squeeze as much profit out of their fields. One family in the Chicago area has added “agritainment” – an annual Pumpkin Fest — to their mix. This year’s visitors can even participate in a straw vote for presidential candidates in the “Pirates and Politics”-themed corn maze.
The Siegel family’s Cottonwood Farm, founded in 1909, scored a hit last year with a “Pirates In The Cornibbean”-themed corn maze. This year, Paul, Sue, Zach, and Kaity Siegel have added "Pirates and Politics" to reflect the unprecedented attention given to this year’s elections.
The corn maze features candidates John McCain and Barack Obama yielding pirate swords and fighting over the Presidential Seal. Guests “vote” by turning right and traveling through John McCain or turn left and travel through Barack Obama, receiving a flag emblazoned with the image of their chosen candidate when they’ve completed their path.
Opening day for Pumpkin Fest 2008 is Sept 27. Winners of the straw poll can hang their signs for the duration of the season. Agritainment is how the Siegel’s subsidize their working farm. Along with educational field trips for schools, activities include the Statesville Haunted Prison, animated giants, train rides, play lands, petting zoo, pony rides, hay rack ride, giant slide, and dwarf’s slide. New this year is the gem mine and Spooky Spiral.
The 38-acre working farm converts to 38 acres of farmily fun each fall. After Halloween, the corn is harvested and used as feed. The pumpkin field is harvested by guests. Visit www.ourpumpkinfarm.com for more information.
