Agritourism attractions offer plenty to see, do, taste this season

Fall on the farm is a bounty for the senses.

Ruby red apples mature on orchard trees, pumpkins reach their bright orange peak and gourds, mums and other garden accoutrements provide the last splashes of color for the season. The wind rustles through drying stalks as revelers seek their way through a maize maze.

Treats such as cinnamon doughnuts, apple dumplings and homemade grilled cheese offer scrumptious seasonal flavors that go best with falling leaves and a nip in the air.

Johnson County’s agritourism hot spots are opening up to the public this autumn, offering farmland fun for the whole family in a variety of ways. From pick-your-own pumpkin patches to farm animal experiences to straw bale playgrounds, the down-home experience is a perfect way for fall fanatics to indulge in their favorite things.

While some agritourism attractions won’t be available — Harvest Adventures at Dougherty Family Farm has had to sit this year out — many of the county’s most popular farms will welcome guests again in 2021. Here’s where to get the most out of your autumn weekends:

Kelsay Farms

What: 6848 N. CR 250E, Whiteland; 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays Oct. 1-30; kelsayfarms.com

The corn stalks reach towards the crisp blue sky, refusing to offer up their secrets or reveal which way to turn next. Turn left or right? Keep going straight? Turn around the way you came? That’s the exhilarating feeling of making your way through Kelsay Farms’ 7-acre corn maze, always a centerpiece of the farm’s annual fall festivities.

The farm opens up to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting Oct. 1. Families can take hay rides, hop on the bounce pad, climb the hay bale tower, meet the farm animals and ride on the Moo Choo Express. Dairy-centric snacks such as milkshakes and grilled cheeses are available for purchase, and Kelsay Farms also opens up during the week during fall break, from Oct. 11-22. Special events include the Fit at the Farm 5K and 1-mile walk, scheduled for Oct. 2 to benefit the Clark-Pleasant Education Foundation, and trick-or-treat in the corn maze from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 30.

The Apple Works

What: 8157 S. 250W, Trafalgar; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; apple-works.com

Since it was founded in 1989, the Apple Works has been welcoming the community to its working orchard in scenic southern Johnson County. More than 20 different kinds of apples are grown at the orchard, from the lively gala to the juicy honeycrisp to the sweet-tart ginger gold. Shoppers can also find all different kinds of Indiana produce, from free-stone peaches to sweet corn to blueberries. Don’t forget to stop into the bake shop for pies, dumplings, doughnuts and other sweet treats.

But fall also brings special events to the Apple Works. Find the perfect gourd for your Halloween jack-o-lantern in the you-pick pumpkin patch. Stroll through gardens, around the pond and past the waterfall on the orchard’s grounds. Enjoy live music every Saturday and Sunday, while kids play on the super slide or in the bamboo maze.

Fall Harvest Festival at Waterman’s Farm

What: 1100 SR 37, Greenwood; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday, Oct. 1-31; watermansfamilyfarm.com/greenwood-location-fall-festival

Few things perfectly encapsulate the fall farm experience than a good old-fashioned hayride, and every day in October, the folks at Waterman’s Farm Greenwood location will be hauling people out through the fields of northwestern Johnson County. The rides end up at the you-pick pumpkin patch, and take people back to the main farm grounds for a wealth of activities.

Kids can jump, climb and scamper up the straw bale playground. Relax in a tipi made out of corn stalks. Take a mini-train ride, or hunker down in the straw fort. A petting zoo allows people to meet goats, sheep and other farm animals. Visitors can try to hang on to the ride ‘em barrel horses, or roll around in the human hamster wheels. A market with produce and locally made goods offers items to purchase, or pay a little extra to make and take your own scarecrow home.

Jenkins Farm Market

What: 5566 SR 252, Franklin; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 2 to 31; facebook.com/Jenkinsfarmmarket

This Amity-area farm market, located at the corner of U.S. 31 and State Road 252, is open year round. But they really kick things up a level in the fall. Hundreds of pumpkins, mums, corn stalks and other products take over the property. Knotty gourds, white pumpkins and multicolored orbs will provide your autumn displays with an otherworldly look. Inside the farm market, find everything from jams and jellies to salsa to homemade pies, bread and noodles.

If you’re more inclined to pick out your own pumpkin straight from the vine, keep a keen eye as you wander through the farm patch. Test your navigational skills in the disorienting corn maze.