SOUTHWEST CITY, Mo. -- Down a dusty, winding dirt road east of Missouri Highway 43, nestled between the Elk River and a green, forested hill, sits the Manning Brothers' Elk River Farm. Every autumn, this farm is home to the Right Choices Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch.
The 600-acre plot of land has been in the Manning family for seven generations. It has been grazed and farmed ever since the owner, Galen Manning's, great-great-grandfather purchased the land in 1866.
Did you know?
• The average corn plant grows seven to 10 feet tall.
• An ear of corn grows about 800 kernels in 16 rows.
• A bushel of corn weighs about 56 pounds.
• Ears of corn have an even number of rows. They can have eight, 10, 12 or more.
• The life cycle of corn is about 130 to 150 days.
• There are about 72,800 kernels in one bushel of corn.
• The tassels of an ear of corn produce the pollen.
• Corn is grown on every continent except Antarctica.
• Corn originated with Native Americans in central Mexico. Petrified corn cobs have been found in places wher they lived.
• Popcorn pops because of a tiny amount of moisture locked inside the corn kernel. The water expands when heated and pops.
• There are corn products in ice cream, hot dogs, vinegar, dry cell batteries, crayons, match heads, toothpaste, aspirin, and some disposable diapers.
• One bushel of corn can produce: 32 pounds of cornstarch; 33 pounds of corn sweetener; 2.7 gallons of ethanol; or 1.6 pounds of corn oil.
• Pilgrims used corn husks to stuff mattresses, corn cobs to burn for fuel and also for feeding livestock.
• The tallest corn plant reported in the U.S. grew to 31 feet tall.
• People first started growing corn more than 8,000 years ago.
• Soda pop contains corn.
• Corn is used 276 ways just in making cookies.
• 75 percent of all grocery items contain corn in a processed form.
• There are 28 pounds of corn starch in a ton of paper.
• The U.S. grows 48 percent of the world’s corn. We lead the world’s corn production.
Galen and his brother, Gary, took over a little more than a decade ago. Galen was in his 40s and had just retired from Walmart.
"I wanted to do more with my time," he said.
So, he dedicated the land to a different cause and opened the farm to the public as a corn maze and pumpkin patch. There are still cows and other crops on the land, but, for the most part, the rolling pastures are dotted with bright pumpkins and looming corn stalks.
Both crops are planted mid-June to ensure they are fresh through the fall season.
According to Manning, the farm employs about 80 workers and more bees than you could count. These bees are vital to the pollination and overall success of the pumpkin crops.
This year he says the pumpkins are especially large.
"It's been a good pumpkin year," Manning said. "There's been lots of rain and hot days."
Guests to the patch have the option of taking a hay ride down to the field and personally picking their pumpkin from the vine or selecting their pumpkin from one of the displays around the farm.
The farm is especially family friendly and features a variety of other activities for youth including a corn box (similar to a sand box), duck races, a cow train, a corn cannon, roller slides, a hay tunnel, a farm zoo, and an exhibit displaying assorted Native American artifacts that have been found on the property.
After retiring, Manning also penned a book entitled "Make Right Choices." The work uses experiences from Manning's life to explore the idea that people are in complete control of both their successes and failures. He supports the 53 various messages and morals with scriptures from the Bible.
"Here at the corn maze, you need to make right choices to get through the path," he said. "You also need to make right choices to get through the path of life."
Using the maze as an opportunity to witness to guests, the design of the path holds a relevant message -- make right choices with prayer.
"This year is an election year and we encourage everyone to pray for our nation, pray for our leaders, and make right choices," Manning explained.
Much like in life, when you come to forks in the maze's path you are met with a decision. Guests must decided if the information presented to them is true or false. They then advance through the maze accordingly.
"This year, half of the facts in the maze will be about the American flag and the other half will revolve around the scripture," Manning said.
Right Choices Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch is located at 1161 Manning Road in Southwest City. Their season began last weekend, Sept. 24, and continues through the end of October. The farm is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
Visit their website at www.rightchoicescornmaze.com to view upcoming events.
Community on 10/05/2016