“Fall on the farm is more fun than most city kids have ever imagined.”
But, youngsters from all around, their folks, grandparents and everybody can find out what it’s really like at the “Fall Festival on the Farm” planned for the next five weekends at the Lazy T Ranch near Manhattan.
“There will be fun for the whole family starting this Friday evening, Sept. 27, again Saturday and Sunday, and the following three-day weekends through October 27,” announced Ron Wilson (shown), host for the fun and educational activities, along with his wife, Chris, and their four children.
Originally homesteaded in 1855, the historic family ranch, complete with stone barn that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located at 2103 Zeandale Road, just two miles east of U.S. 177 on Highway 18.
Fridays’ festivities are from 6 to 10 p.m., while the ranch will be open from 10 o’clock Saturday mornings, to 10 o’clock in the evening. After church Sunday, the gate opens right at noon, and there’ll be activities until 5 o’clock, when it’s time to milk the cows.
Well, what all’s on tap for visitors to the Fall Festival on the Farm?
There’s a pumpkin patch, and the opportunity to purchase pumpkins of various sizes to take home. “There’ll be a pumpkin train and even a Purple Powercat train for family rides all around the farm,” Wilson noted.
Then, visitors can go on a hayrack ride through the prairies, and have their own individual pony ride, plus the chance to rope a genuine Longhorn steer head, play in the corn bin, climb a straw bale castle, jump in the bounce house, fire the hedge ball sling shot, mingle through the hay bale maze, drive toy tractors in the Future Farmers’ Field, and even play laser tag, or weave through a flashlight maze, Friday and Saturday evenings.
“Of all the things there are to do, often we find that the boys, girls, moms, dads and even the grandparents like most to meet the animals: the horses, cattle, llamas, dairy goats, ducks, sheep, rabbits and chickens,” Wilson pointed out.
Of course, everybody, young and the most mature, always likes to eat, and there’ll be plenty of fun and nutritious varieties for all at the Cowboy Café.
“We’ll have hot popcorn, our delicious barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, Barb’s Homemade Fudge and other autumn treats and drinks,” Wilson promised.
In addition to the “Fall Festival on the Farm,” the Wilson family has a bed and breakfast and host educational and activities on their ranch throughout the year.
Information is available at www.lazytranchadventures.com.