SOUTHWEST CITY, Mo. -- Ten years of family fun is a milestone to celebrate and Right Choices Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, LLC, in Southwest City is preparing to welcome visitors for its 10th season, which begins this weekend.
Each year, the maze design reflects an emphasis on a good life choice, such as choosing to take care of one's family, choosing to take care of people or choosing to succeed. This year, the emphasis is on the source of all good choices -- the Bible. The maze design depicts a Bible, and Right Choices is teaming up with area churches to give people an opportunity to learn about the Bible and its teaching when they visit the farm and corn maze.
Sept. 19-Nov. 1.
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays
noon to 8 p.m. Sundays
"This is our 10th year and I prayed much about this year's theme," said Galen Manning, owner of Right Choices Corn Maze and author of a book entitled, "Make Right Choices." "This year's maze says, 'Make Right Choices' at the top and then says, 'Read the Holy Bible,'" Manning said. "It shows an open Bible at the bottom," Manning explained.
Families that have visited Right Choices Corn Maze over the years can still enjoy the many activities offered on the Manning Brothers' Elk River Farm. Main attractions include an eight-acre corn maze, a two-mile hay ride around the farm and along the Elk River, a cow train ride, shooting an air-powered corn cannon and a giant corn jump. Visitors may also pick pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, take pony rides and enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides. Crafts and produce will be available for sale in the pumpkin house.
Gospel music and contemporary Christian music concerts will be held on the gazebo, and an antique tractor show is scheduled for the first weekend in October.
ACHE Dental will be at Right Choices on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 to give out information and perform dental checks for kids.
Visitors might also want to take advantage of the half-price all-activity admission on Sept. 19-20 and Sept. 26-27.
Bob Weeks will be making brooms from broom corn in the barn. He will be joined this year by Tim and Ruth Field weaving rugs on their loom.
Right Choices Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch will be open this year Sept. 19-Nov. 1. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday hours are from noon to 8 p.m. Right Choices also hosts field trips by reservation on week days. The Manning Farm and Right Choices Corn Maze is located just north of Southwest City and east on Manning Road (Oklahoma 25 and Missouri County Road O). The complete calendar, directions and other information can be found at www.rightchoicescornmaze.com or by calling 417-762-3695.
How it started
Not wanting to retire and do nothing and also desiring to join a love for agriculture with his Christian beliefs, Galen Manning, together with his brothers, turned the family farm into a wholesome place for young and old alike to visit. "Right Choices" is the theme of the farm's activities and is also in the name of a book Galen has written.
The farm's mission statement, previously published on the Right Choices website, is "to create an environment which promotes an appreciation for agriculture with an emphasis on making ethically correct choices."
The farm has been in the Manning family since 1870. Galen, who retired from a 26-year career with Walmart, wanted to find a way to use the family farm, which he had worked on the side, into a ministry opportunity.
Galen and his wife Barbie, a school teacher, visited another corn maze and decided to look into building a maze of their own on the family farm. They joined an organization in Utah which helps people build the mazes by designing and marking out the paths.
"My brother Gary retired about the same time as I did," Galen said. Gary, a carpenter by trade, helped restore the farm's 1875 barn and build other fixtures on the farm. Another brother, David, built the farm's Web site. Galen's daughter Charity promotes the maze and events.
When the farm is open, neighbors and members from the Mannings' church, the Full Gospel Church in Southwest City, help out with the many activities on the farm, Galen said.
"We're only open seven weeks a year, but we're working on the maze and getting things ready all year long," Galen explained.
The corn -- mostly field corn but also popcorn, ornamental corn and silage corn -- is planted in rows going north and south and east and west. After the design is finished and the corn is planted and growing, the maze is marked and the paths sprayed and mowed.
For anyone wanting an aerial view of the maze, a trip to the old hay loft will provide a view from 30 feet above the ground.
Community on 09/23/2015