As some farms struggle with the ongoing drought and rollercoaster effects that came with the pandemic, one Southern Oregon has been able to stay afloat and host its 13th annual Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch.

“We started this agritourism, is what it’s generically called, on the farm to save the farm. Prices were dropping, milk prices, cattle prices, all kinds of things were depleting,” Carri O’Brien, the events coordinator for Fort Vannoy Farms said.

O’Brien explained when the farm began hosting the community 13 years ago, it wanted to teach children and host classes on the importance of farming and the agricultural skills necessary to maintain a farm.

“We wanted kids to know that pumpkins actually grow in a field, not in a cardboard box,” said Bob Crouse, the owner of Fort Vannoy Farms. “From there we got into 'you-pick', you pick strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries for the same reason, to allow the whole family to come out and find out where their food is grown.”

Each year Fort Vannoy Farms runs a pumpkin patch, you-pick a variety of seasonal produce, and a corn maze open to the public.

O’Brien said it was designed to pique the public's interest and get them interested in how the process works.

“It became just enhancing what the farm actually provides and we’ve learned that people love being outside, they love being in the fresh air and they love to see how things are grown,” O’Brien said.

Throughout the month of October, the farm also hires seasonal workers who need extra money or just want to assist the public in any way they can.

“We just like the fact that everybody comes and all the kids have a great time, it’s fun to see the young people come and even the adults to see what they learn when they are here,” Crouse said. “It’s just great experience kids get to come out and they have over 100 acres to run in.”