Frederica Mesa Farm has taken on a CSU-Pueblo theme this fall by cutting the university’s logo into its corn maze, donating to the On the Move campaign and offering discounts to students, faculty, staff and alumni.
The farm hosted a CSU-Pueblo night Sept. 25 in which athletes and members of the dance and cheer teams signed autographs. The event also featured CSU-Pueblo’s mascot, Wolfie, and a live remote from campus radio station Rev 89.
“My aunt was a CSU-Pueblo alumni and we’re all big football fans and big supporters of the community,” said Keli Orr, operator of the Thunderwolf Corn Maze
“We hope to continue as long as we can and support the student body, Lacrosse, Rev 89. We will do another live remote on Oct. 2 when the haunted maze opens,” she said. “Students can get discounts by bringing the flyer also but showing their student ID will get $1 off.”
The farm, which is located about 15 miles east of Pueblo at 47522 McHarg Rd. in Avondale, is also offering discounts to community students with specially marked fliers, according to a university news release. For every flier that is brought in, the farm will donate $1 to the CSU-Pueblo Foundation’s On the Move campaign.
Faculty and staff members can buy discounted tickets through the President’s Office for $3 to the event and tickets for the haunted corn maze are offered for $5.
The Frederica Fall Festival, which made the ten best on USA Today, will open its haunted corn maze at the beginning of October.
Through the end of the month, students, staff, faculty and community members can adventure through the corn maze, participate in night bonfires and hayrides, visit a pumpkin patch and family fun area and have food and drinks.
Orr said sponsors for the festival include CSU-Pueblo, Blue Sky, District 70, Pueblo County High School, South High School, and April Style, a company that takes family portraits.
“It feels good to come out here and become a part of a, well, team,” said Miranda Prickett, a freshman cheerleader attending CSU-Pueblo for her pre nursing degree. “I love to see Wolfie involving all the kids. They treat you like a celebrity and really look up to you.”
A few local businesses, including distribution company Nicky B’s, offered snacks to the community, students and staff.
“This is our first year attending and we hope to get involvement from CSU-Pueblo and the community,” said Nicole Benavidez, who worked with Nicky B’s at the event.
Students, staff, community members and business owners all came together to celebrate the grand opening of the Thunderwolf Maze. Family activities at the event include a bounce house, a corn pit for toddlers and the festival’s newest edition, a corn cannon participants can use to shoot corn at different targets.
The haunted maze will be open Oct. 3-31 every Friday and Saturday from dusk until midnight. A limited number of tickets will also be available for students through the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership.
For more information about the campaign or about the haunted maze visit www.fredericamesafarm.com.
