Wednesday, November 30, 2011

About Shryocks

2011 Marked Shryocks 10th Anniversary.


People have been flocking to the Shryock's 2,500 acre family farm in Callaway County for generations. Since 1889 the Shryocks have farmed and maintained a harvest that today includes a soybeans, corn and wheat. The bountiful harvest isn't what has so many people from around the Midwest talking about Shryock's these days though. Since 2002 the farm has featured a corn maze that has been shaped into everything from traditional patterns to this year's 'Grandma Shryock' to commemorate the matriarch's ninetieth birthday. ­­This year, 2011, also marks the tenth anniversary of the corn maze making this year's festivities extra special.


As children the Shryock kids, now running the farm, enjoyed playing in the fields of crops making their own paths and games among the soybeans and corn. Today, they use this same spirit of adventure with a little technological help from Mike Shryock, a business graduate of Westminster College and the son of those now in charge of the farm. After graduating from college in 1999, Mike returned home eager to attempt a corn maze of his own on what he considered an ideal location just off the interstate. He uses his individual imagination and input from the many visitors to the maze to recreate the childhood dreams of the previous generation and his own on a much bigger scale.

"Sometimes people give topics that they would like to see in the maze. We're a pretty sports-minded family, so we could do sports every year, but not everybody's as crazy about sports as we are," wife of one of the owners, Nina Shryock said. "So, we just try to touch on different things and this year Grandma Shryock turned ninety. Grandma's a big part of our family and we just decided it would be kind of nice to honor her." The first maze, unveiled in 2002, featured the famous Mizzou Tiger logo and  each year since has been designed and created by the Shryocks themselves. Though the maze has doubled in size and changes designs every year the same family connection still exists year after year.


The corn maze is also accompanied every year by a variety of events accumulated to provide  a family friendly environment that offers fun and entertainment for all ages. Affectionately called 'The Big Red Barn,' this iconic landmark serves as the headquarters of the family farm and, during the corn maze season, hosts attractions such as three-story gumball coaster where visitors can watch their gumball travel through an intricate series of mechanisms all the way down to their waiting hands, "It's awesome," Malia Reynolds, a young visitor, said, "I like how it's going through the obstacle thing or something at the top. I like to watch that."

Affectionately called 'The Big Red Barn,' this iconic
landmark serves as the headquarters of the family farm



This unique gumball experience is among the most popular of the attractions offered in the barn and costs just twenty five cents to enjoy. Shryock's also offers hayrides that are available by reservation year round and provide an opportunity for patrons to get a glimpse at a working, family operated farm, ending the ride at a campfire destination where guests are free to bring their own picnic baskets and coolers to feast by the firelight.


Fall, in particular, is a special time for the Shryock family as they welcome visitors from all corners of the state and beyond to their farm attempting to bring in the holiday season with a multitude of fun and adventure. The combination of indoor and outdoor activities at the farm provides a great atmosphere for the whole family to enjoy.  "It's neat to come and spend some time outside. It's fun, but it's a challenge to try and get through the maze, [the maze is] fun for the kids," first-time maze visitor Laura Pavlack said.