Life is too short if you don’t enjoy what you are doing. This is something I have told countless visitors to the farm over the years. 16 years ago we made a career change and up until this past weekend, we enjoyed what we were doing.We do what we do not for the money, but for the enjoyment of others and to create memories that will last a lifetime. We have seen many of you grow up from children to adults, graduate high school and college and even witnessed an annual progression from dating to married to children. Each positive memory brings a smile to our face as we think of your kindness.

 

Over the years we have received negative reviews and except for a few of them, who simply did not enjoy their experience, we can still tell you what they did that caused their negative reaction to us. We guess it is our fault that we catch them with dangerous behavior in our activity area, or not following our rules which are meant to protect them, and it’s our fault when they read our closing times wrong and then don’t open for their convenience and it’s also our fault when they can’t communicate with their group. It’s our fault they can’t get to the farm on time, and it’s our fault when we catch people trespassing. Do we need to continue?

 

While we have had thousands of amazing visitors over the years - of all ethnicities - and have created many lasting friendships with some of you, the encounters with the few who insist on profanity-laden language as well as the intoxicated college students who find it fun to crash through the corn and damage our crop we will harvest, have worn us down.This past weekend, at ages 70 and 63, we were accused of being incompetent owners, having a beautiful farm and maze but poor customer service, being unwelcoming and not being able to solve simple problems or train our staff adequately.

 

Staff, along with myself, were threatened with physical violence and a phone was repeatedly shoved in my face. We were sworn at and accused of being racist. As owners, we have taken pride in operating the farm and providing a training ground for young people. We have hired everyone who has ever worked here directly and have trained some amazing, young high-school students who go above and beyond what is asked of them and we consider each and every one of them to be family.Effective today, we are closing the farm, corn maze and pumpkin patch for the season. We will evaluate over the winter as to whether or not we will reopen in 2026. Our Market will be open from 10-4 on Saturday and most items will be significantly discounted. The Farm Market will be closed for the year after Saturday.

 

If you have already purchased tickets for this week or November, a refund will be processed and sent to you.The anger directed towards our family and staff, the loss of sleep and continuous stress are not worth continuing operations. We will no longer accept the venom that is directed at us personally.May those of you who have blessed us over the years with your kind words, hugs, high fives, drawings, and general kindness, know that you are the reason we have lasted for sixteen years. We will treasure the positive memories as the pain of this past weekend fades. The bottom line is we are no longer having fun at what we are doing.

 

Kent and Evie Woods