Like every business in America, we’ve been a little thin on staff this season, particularly during the week.

We have a great core of teenagers you might have met during your weekend visits. They are lovely to work with and have learned the Fun Park quickly.

On weekdays, those teens have a habit of going to school, which leaves us with lots of maintenance and mowing, etc., to do Mon-Fri. I have ended up on the zero-turn more this year than in past years. As it turns out, that’s not so bad.

Many of you might find mowing the yard dull, but I find it a relaxing way to clear my head from all the information rattling around in there. I love to cut grass because it is a job for which you can see results instantly! It has a great connection from the effort to the final product.

When mowing in the Fun park, it also gave me a look “behind the scenes.”

You see, we designed the Fun Park purposefully to mask attractions, allow you to explore, and create a sense of space and mystery.

That also means I sometimes don’t get to see every nook and cranny of the Fun Park each week. While mowing, I discovered weeds that needed pulling, fading signs, trash to pick up, mulch to rake, and details that needed looking after.

Doing all this extra work myself turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

But isn’t that how so many of life’s blessings arrive,

you know… disguised?

• When our social media manager moved away, learning to work remotely was a huge hassle, but those skills paid off in 2020.
• When the deer ate our cherry trees, that was horrible, but then we could redesign the orchard for future pick-your-own.
• When my mom died, it was a tragedy! That forced me to understand better all she was doing and integrate the maze & farm experience more directly.
• When I interviewed for a job as a college senior, I got food poisoning at the meal before the interview, and no surprise bombed it. I returned to college sick as a dog and heartbroken, then found a job closer to the home farm that led to my ability to start Maize Quest.

What blessings have come to you disguised?

What opportunities could you NOT see in the moment, but you see the clear sequence of events when you look back?

I don’t mind mowing when I have the time. Moving forward, I think I’ll specifically make the time so we make sure you have a great time on the farm.

There are only FOUR weekends of Fall Harvest remaining, and we hope YOU make the most of them with your people down on the farm.

See you soon,

Farmer Hugh