Garden Golf at Kaska Family Farm RULES!!

It’s 66 degrees today and sunny.  It feels like March or April around the farm today.  Our little chickens have ventured out a little farther than their usual turf; just content to be out in the sun.  Even though it’s very early in the year, it might interest many of you to know that this is when we dream about the coming maze season.  We dream BIG.  We dream about silly signs, new flowers and plants and how to safely bunny-proof them!  We dream about a beautiful, tall, green maze with just the right amount of “hard” to keep you stumped and yet enough “easy” to keep it fun and light.  We dream about screams and laughter as you are being chased by deranged, chainsaw wielding maniacs.  We dream of bright yellow school buses filled to the brim with excited children. 

We order seeds for pumpkins and flowers, we plow the earth to soak up the winter rains.  We paint, we mow, we pick rocks.  We sketch and draw.  We talk about new, fun activities to add to the event.  We talk about safety.  We sample new foods to serve in the Cafe’.  We talk about staffing and paperwork.  We take classes, and notes and visit other farms.  We research and contemplate and we pray.  Alot.

As you can see, you and your family are never very far from our thoughts all year ’round.  It is with you in mind that maze season has become the most cherished of all tasks on our farm and within our family.   We’ve hung the pictures you send us on the wall, along with the Thank You cards, letters and drawings.  We proudly display the Christmas cards and birth announcements you send.  Our hearts swell, and we are so touched at your thoughtfulness.  We consider all who visit the farm as family, and we are looking forward to our “get together” this fall.

In the months to come; please check back to see what we’re up to.  We absolutely love to hear from you and love it when you mention the changes you notice!  We have a lot of work to do — fall will be here before you know it!

We, at Kaska Family Farm, have officially declared this coming Saturday, October 24th, 2009 as “Ellie’s Day @ Kaska Family Farm”

Ellie is 5-years-old and has Juvenile Ideopathic Arthritis, she was diagnosed when she was 18-months old, and her symptoms are controlled by medicine. 

I was inspired by this little girl.    I am turning 40 this year, rather unwillingly.  I complain that my knees hurt, or some other ache or pain — but really, I could exercise more often and take better care of myself as I defy aging.  This cannot be said of Ellie.  She doesn’t really have a choice about whether or not her joints hurt or about managing pain.  She does, however, have a choice in trying to do something to help prevent this illness in other children.  And she does….

Ellie and her friends and family support the Arthritis Foundation through numerous volunteer and fund raising events.   The Arthritis Foundation is the only not-for-profit organization that supports the more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions.  They offer information and tools to help people live a better life with arthritis.

This year, Kaska Family Farm, and it’s staff have jumped on board to help Ellie with her fund raising efforts.  On Saturday, October 24th  we will collect funds all during the day — from 1oam until 10pm– and will make a donation to the Arthritis Foundation fund raising event of Ellie’s choice.  She would like for the proceeds to be donated to a well-known event:  Jingle Bell Run!

With that said….. we want as many people as we can possibly cram into a 10 acre Corn Maze on the 24th to support Ellie and her efforts to support other children like herself!  A portion of every ticket sale will be donated to this very worthy cause!  So come on out — I know how ya’ll can rock a food drive; let’s see what we can do to support the Arthritis Foundation!! 

The Waco Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation will have it’s annual Jingle Bell Run on Saturday, December 5th.  For more information, or to find a Jingle Bell Run/Walk event where you live,  please click the logo below!

Thanks for your support!!

It’s here, and it’s amazing!!   We love our school children visits, and we love all the teachers that tag along with them — we truly hope you’ll find this new resource guide helpful to your scheduled farm visit with us this fall!

Please visit the Field Trips section of this website for more information!

Due to the recent heavy rains, we will open the farm for our 2009 season on Saturday, September 26th!!

Corn Monster at Kaska Family Farm

 OPEN SATURDAY NIGHTS ONLY

from September 19 thru October 31, 2009

Due to the recent heavy rains, we will open open the farm for our 2009 season on Saturday, September 26th!!

I wonder what this mysterious, clutching, nine-foot tall creature could be up to?  Where did he come from?  When did he slip into the corn field?  Is he in search of something or someone to snack on…..hmmm……I wonder? 

We’re still keeping the haunted trail family friendly, but you might want to think twice about taking in the very little kiddos this year…..unless you enjoy peeling them off of you at the end of the trail!   Our recommendation is still the same; children 10yrs old and younger must be with an adult to enter.

Windmill at Kaska Family Farm

Did you know that the company, Rustic Windmills,  is located near Waco, Texas?  Yep, it is.  It just so happens that Richard went to school with the owner of the company, and he’s made us “official” dealers of the rustic windmills that many of you admired at our farm last season.  You don’t have to be a Texan to love these windmills. 

The tail (shown here with a Texas flag motif) comes plain, or in many cases painted with team logos.  Many a front lawn is sporting an Aggie or Longhorn themed windmill around these parts;  you gotta let folks know where you stand on these issues in Texas!

We have several sizes/styles/price ranges  in stock now and there’ll be some here when you come to visit this fall,  but they can be purchased and shipped just about anywhere any time of the year.

If you are just in dire need of a windmill to grace your homeplace, let us know.  We also carry the  Chuck Wagons — a beautiful center piece to any flower bed when filled with flowers or pumpkins, or both!

We thought you might enjoy seeing just how crazy we really are about this whole maze stuff!  Nobody in their right mind would work straight through these sticky, still, hot July days;  cutting, painting, mowing, planting!  It’s just crazy!  To tell you the truth, we are crazy about our little farm and all of you great folks who come out to visit and keep in touch throughout the year.   We love what we do and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Poor thing! Unsightly, but necessary for our makeover!

Power washing paint off of the Cow Train

10 of these, times 2! Long weekend....

Each cow’s face had to be handpainted, both sides for each of the ten cows. This picture is a rare peek at my (Toni) work area….there are permanent markers in the top drawer; our kids, staff, and others leave messages and doodle art all over the surface!  I love this old desk….good times, good times.

Cow Train Makeover 2009

Hi, all ~

Many of you have commented on how far out in the middle of nowhere we are; well, not exactly! 

Kaska Family Farm is conveniently located near lots of neat places for you and your family to visit!  Like our own community of West,  nearby Waco has great restaurants, hotels, and events all year long! 

Consider paying a visit to these wonderful places while you’re in the neighborhood!

The list below is just a random sample of the attractions in Waco –  Please visit the Waco Convention & Tourism Bureau  for more information on these and other attractions and events your family can enjoy!

Cameron Park Zoo

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum

Texas Sports Hall of Fame

Dr Pepper Museum 

Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo

Art Center Waco:  The Place for Art & Ideas

Mayborn Museum Complex

Historic Waco Foundation

The Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas & Library & Museum

Clarion Hotel Waco, Texas

I’m always puddling around, learning new things to make your visit to our farm even better….and, sometimes, I actually stumble onto something that I just have to tell you all about!

The Clarion Hotel in Waco   has come up with budget-friendly room rates just for our farm guests!! 

MAKE RESERVATIONS AT CLARION HOTEL WACO AT THE AMAZING RATE OF $69.99 PER NIGHT HERE!!

Use reservation code LFARM when making reservations online or by phone to get the special farm rate!!

To say the indoor pool is an oasis is an understatement.  Our oldest daughter attended her first prom last May.  Of course, it was a little rainy that day!  The Clarion graciously invited the young ladies and gentlemen into the pool atrium to take a few pictures out of the rain — now that’s hospitality!

Ok, I admit it:  I’ve  griped every time the swallows return each spring and decided to make our front porch their summer home.  I read or heard somewhere that there’s a Chinese proverb that states that having swallows choose your home to make a nest is a sign of good fortune.

Perhaps, but I didn’t feel very fortunate cleaning up bird poo from my porch.  This year; however, something happened that changed my mind about these curious little birds.

It was unmistakable:  about a month or so ago, little bits of mud and “stuff” stuck to the wall, just under the eves of the porch.  I thought, “Ugh, they’re back.  Soon, I will have a mountain of bird poo to clean.”  And so it begins each spring.  Richard and the children scold me for not feeling more compassionate about these little birds who have chosen us as a safe haven for their young. (They do eat flying insects, especially mosquitoes!  Anything that eats mosquitoes is worth it’s weight in gold!)

It wore me down, I did feel guilty.  After all, what had these cute, little chirpers really done to inconvenience me?  Poo is an inconvenience, but I have to admit, each morning when we head out the door to scatter to the four winds of our days; the babies sit: big, yellow mouths; fuzzy little heads and giant eyes — perched along the edge of the nest, trying to figure out what we are, I guess.  It is sort of cute……

Barn Swallows on the front porch

In this picture the parents allowed me to sneak (the babies hide down in the nest when the parents show any sign of concern) — you can see the mess they make!  All I can think about is the possiblity of some kind of bio-hazard.  But, I’ve thought about it:  raising a family is messy and busy for awhile, and then they fly away; the very thing you’ve been preparing them for all along.

I was taking this picture and the little bird on the right suddenly took flight.  Other babies poked their heads up to see what was going on and I counted SEVEN little ones in there, in various stages of development.   It surprised me to see a few more of them fly away to the nearest tree.  The parents were obviously upset with me. (I apologized!)  It made me think of my own little brood:  cooking, cleaning, picking up, dropping off, checking homework — I’m actually happy the messy Barn Swallows are here.  I do feel fortunate, I have a great life.  It is full and it is eventful every day.  Some day, things will slow down around here and I will miss the hustle and bustle something terrible.

I went around the side of the house for the water hose to clean up the bird poo, only with a little more gratitude today than before.    Today, my own little birds  are still in my nest.  Time flies, and soon my little birds will try their wings, too. 

Visit here to learn more about Barn Swallows!

Join our team at Kaska Family Farm!

We offer part-time seasonal employment on our farm each season.  Typically, we need employees from mid-September through the first week of November.  All schedules are temporary.  Staffing needs last for approximately 8 weeks, mostly weekends;  however, weekday opportunities may arise during the season to assist with field trips.  All schedules are shift-work that is paid hourly.

If you are energetic, are a “people person” , reliable, honest,  can handle a fast-paced work environment, and able to work flexible hours on weekends, then you might be a good candidate to join our team!

We’re in the business of helping families create memories;  smiles, cheery dispositions and warm hearts are a must!  We’re in the business of family fun!  And we want our staff to have fun, too!

Because we take the safety and well-being of our staff and guests very seriously; we screen all of our applicants thoroughly.  ALL applicants may be  subject to a pre-hire national background check that includes the following:  felonies, misdemeanors, and sex offenses at state and county levels .  This background check is outsourced to a licensed agency and the applicant’s confidential information is NOT maintained in our office or shared.

 The positions we are looking to fill:

• Drivers for Hayride and Cow Train — Must be at least 18 yrs or older; clean driving history, valid TX driver’s license, able to demonstrate tractor driving and experience and knowledge.  The owners do test for these skills before hiring.
• General Staff (These positions are the most flexible, and can “float” to different areas during operations in any area:  Farm Cafe’, Ticket Booth, Guest Relations, Parking, etc.)  Requires constant contact with customers and knowledge of all farm activities and events.
• Actors for the Haunted Trail — Saturday nights only.  We are not a “gore” haunt; just startle.   Our haunt is also a “No Touch” haunt.  Our actors are strictly prohibited from touching customers.   Creative input on characterization that fits within the haunt’s theme is not only welcomed, but encouraged of our actors.  Management does reserve the right to inspect costumes prior to use.

If you’re interested in joining us this fall for some good, clean farmin’ fun — please send us your resume; complete with at least three letters of reference for management to review.

Contact us here with your employment information.