DALEVILLE, Ind. – September 21st was the start of Fall Fun on the Farm at Landess Farms. Located in Daleville, Indiana, Landess Farms has been family-owned since 1931. Jessi and Susan Landess are 3rd and 4th-generation farmers.
They started farming with just a few acres of strawberries, then had the idea to expand and start a corn maze.
Jessi explained her love for educating, especially in history.
“So the thing we enjoy the most, obviously, I enjoy the most, interacting with people, and helping people, and helping to educate people, because obviously that’s what we do with our maze each year. It’s come in kind of an educational format, which encourages school children,” Jessi said.
Every year, Jessi chooses a theme for the corn maze that has an educational component, which he uses a satellite to map out and cuts himself in the corn. He explained this year’s theme.
“. . . we try to have a theme each year, in relationship to the corn maze, this year the corn maze theme is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal, which was finished building in 1825,” Jessi said.
The canal was a pivotal moment in the history of transportation, creating an efficient and cheap route between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic.
The farm owners paid for activities like pumpkin picking, hayrides, two corn mazes, a mega slide and much more. They have a variety of fresh produce on site, ranging from cucumbers to apples, and even jams and jellies that are harvested directly from the farm and produced on site.
The family-friendly environment offers the perfect scenery to get all your Instagram-worthy pictures and enjoy some fall festivities with the rush.
Jessi and Susan pride themselves on not being a fast-paced, rushed experience.
“Well, I hope to see many of you out here, to enjoy an afternoon with us, you know, time kind of stands still out here. You’re not under pressure to get to any place; you’re able to stay as long as you wish. Out here all afternoon, there’s no fast rule that says you can only be here so many hours, and you have to leave, no, not here.”
This hidden gem in Daleville has so much to offer and so much more to explore.
Contact Riley Shafer with comments at riley.shafer@bsu.edu.
