Though the pandemic may have changed the way most agri-tourism businesses are operating, most are still welcoming in families to their farms.
Hicks Family Farm started in 1913 as a dairy and cotton operation. Now, they grow grain and raise livestock, but they are also an agri-tourism spot. Ten years ago, Kevin and Rebekah Hicks opened up their pumpkin patch and corn maze.
The Hicks are now on their fifth generation working the farm. Rebekah came from a military family, but says that she has loved turning into a farmer’s wife and a farmer herself.
“We started the pumpkin patch as a way to invite families out to the farm just so they could get away from the busyness of everyday life... Spend some time with their friends and family,” Rebekah states.
Their biggest hurdle with COVID-19 restrictions has been the amount of people on the farm, specifically for events like the hay ride.
“We’ve put in a lot of extra staff for cleaning,” Kevin notes. “We’ve got a crew that’s going to do nothing but go around cleaning, all day long just cleaning any touched surface. Just to make sure that everything is safe.”
“With all the restrictions and people having to stay in their homes for a while, I am excited to invite people out. They’ve allowed us to open. We’re going to try and keep it safe; we’re going to try and keep everything clean,” Kevin adds.
Local FFA students also help around Hicks’s farm.