Fall is officially here. The pumpkins have been picked, the corn maze has been meticulously prepared over the past months and the mums are in full bloom at Fischer Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze.
When the corn was just a mere 18 inches tall a company from Utah came in and used GPS locating systems to plot out the design that Kim, Jay and Jena Fischer had decided on for the year.
After the company sprays the corn with a chemical that kills the corn in the shape, Kim is charged with keeping the weeds and growth down to keep the shape of the maze.
The design this year includes the Missouri Corn Growers Association wording, as Jay became a member of the association this year, a combine and the St. Louis Arch.
The maze is about 10 acres in size and takes up to an hour and a half to get through, Kim said.
The farm, including just over 20 acres of pumpkins and gourds, is open to the public through mid-November, weather permitting.
At the start of October, more than 600 school children were already scheduled to make trips to the farm.
"I love having the kids come out and watch them find pumpkins and go through the corn maze," Kim said.
In the 10 years since the pumpkin patch first opened, the seasonal operations have grown to include more staff and attractions.
The corn maze was added a few years ago, there are livestock and a corn box for the children along with a multitude of photo opportunities and a hay ride.
School and other groups are encouraged to schedule trips during the week. The farm is open to the public from 4-9 p.m. on Friday and from noon-9 p.m. on Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday.
Pumpkins range in price from 50 cents to $15. The corn maze is $6 per person and hay ride $2 per person. Children 2 and younger are free.
Fischer Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze can be found by taking the Jefferson City Airport exit, making a right past TNT (formerly Hoods) then make a left onto Mokane Road and go about 1.5 miles. The farm is located on the left.
Kim can be reached at (573) 636-0450 or (573) 694-7670.