SAGE PAGE

Kelsey Rudisill, Sage Page Editor
Sage Page
Laertes gets lost at Treinen Farm
Every year, the Purple Sage editorial board acquires a new gnome to be the mascot of the year. Recently, Laertes, this year’s gnome,
traveled to Lodi for some fall fun. Since the 1920s, Treinen Farm has been a family-based farm. The farm stayed this way up until
about 20 years ago when they began the pumpkin patch and hired other non-family employees. This year marks the ninth year for
their ever-growing corn maze. Co-owner Alan Treinen commented that ideas for the maze design come from different sources each
year. The castle design from a few years back came from his son Thomas and the “Hey Diddle Diddle” design came to Alan at 3 a.m.
He woke up, wrote it down and went back to bed. When it became apparent to owners Alan and Angie Treinen that they were going
to need some help, Angie began recruiting workers from the Sauk City and Waunakee area to work for weekends at the corn maze and
pumpkin patch. Though they have some competition for corn mazes (like Schuster’s farm in Deerfield), the Treinens must be doing
something right. Last year, around 15,000 people came through. Concerning big plans for the future, Alan said, “As far as the maze
design goes, no. . . .If I did [have plans], I’d tell you!” What he does know for sure is that next year will hold a new attraction along with
the classics the public has come to expect year after year.
“
It’s a lot of effort to keep
something like this up.
”
-Alan Treinen
Above: Laertes explores the pumpkin patch. Right: he rings up doughnuts for customers. Below: Laertes
and his turtle bury themselves in
corn.
Above: Laertes competes for space
with a hen in Treinen’s children’s
playhouse. Left: Laertes gets lost
in the corn maze. Below: Laertes
meets some friends in the stuffed
animal pit.
Hours:
Friday,
5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday,
11 A.M. - 9 P.M.
Sunday,
11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Special HOURs:
October 29 &
30, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission:
Maze...$8
Pumpkin
Patch...$7.50
Both...$14.50
Located at W 12420 Highway 60 in Lodi
Contact at 608-592-3481
Photos by Kelsey Rudisill
Page 16
The Purple Sage
October 21, 2009