Archive for January, 2014

Snow Rollers something special, and the Polar Vortex

Wednesday, January 29th, 2014

It has been said “life is like a box of chocolates, ya never know what you are going to get”. We have been having quite a winter. It has been cold, really cold, a winter “like we use to have” you hear people say. A winter that has been cold and snowy, some happening at the same time even. But the other night something special happened, “Snow Rollers” formed across the countryside.

Snow Rollers

Snow Rollers for a limited time only!

I saw a few here or there, then more then I started noticing where they were and it dawned on me, I’ve been around snow my whole life and I’d never seen anything like this.
Often times you get clumps of ice that form as snow thaws and refreezes that form like “ice rocks” on the landscape. Or you have windblown fields and clumps of dirt shield snow from blowing away that form mini-mounds that can remain also. But these are different when you look more closely.

Snow Rollers delicate and cold

Snow Rollers delicate and cold

Little Snowman bellies dotted the fields, it looked like Mother Nature was working on the foundation for Clone Army of Snowmen.

An Army of white!

Now I’m not a conspiracy theorist but….

Mother Nature's Snowman Clone Army

Mother Nature's Snowman Clone Army

Ok, so they don’t have legs, but they are snowmen that didn’t stop Burl Ives! I bet if it was going to happen this is how it would start! Can you imagine the deafening roar of all of these “snow rollers” coming to life and saying “Happy Birthday” simultaneously! (For you younger folks, Google “Frosty the Snowman” putting on his hat, or click here to see.
So what is this Polar Vortex and how did it bring about this clone army?

Polar Vortex

Polar Vortex

Polar Vortex’s (on each pole both North and South) are basically Cold Core Low pressure areas, or persistent large scale Cyclones. You can learn more here
Occasionally they wander away from their home turf and we end up with some “unique” weather for our area. To be fair it was a brief warm up that allowed for the formation of these little guys. But without the extended weather provided by the P.V. I don’t think they would have come to life.

So what do these Snow Rollers look like in real time? I shot this video of one sleeping. I figured they are nocturnal since they formed at night and I have not seen them move since.

Bottom line is they are something special, we strive to be a special place that does special things that holds a special place in people’s lives. Thanks for stopping by.

2014 New Food, New Fun, New Friends, New Wines, New Events!

Friday, January 10th, 2014

Wow here we go again a new year a year of new possibilities. The cool thing about farming and the winery is we really do get start all over again new each year. That is one huge reason many of us stay in the agriculture business. Each year brings a new chance to do better than years past. You can take lessons learned and apply them going forward. You read, surf the web, attend conferences, network with other growers. A new year is like Christmas morning with new gift of opportunity just waiting to be opened.

I love being out working when the sunrises!

I love being out working when the sunrises!

A Big part of what we do is a long list of special events on the farm. We can talk about farming and the joys and challenges that go with it but we also have to answer the question: what can we do for you? How can we bring you Hakuna Matata? Being authentic is very important to us. Out of these two ideas we try and develop things for people to come, see and do while visiting with us. Some things are grand some are simple, some are weekly, some are monthly some go on for weeks on end, some are seasonal. But we always want people to ask, “what is going on at Maize Valley?”

2013 LoCo Motion final 3

2013 LoCo Motion Corn Maze Adventure

Way back in the day we pretty much got started with our Corn Mazes and pumpkin picking. We still do this every year and it continues to grow each year. But we also do a wide variety of other events starting in January.

Here is a quick list of what we have on the books for 2014 with more to follow.

January 18th – The Island Doctor in the Winery

About now people are asking "Snow or Sand?"

About now people are asking "Snow or Sand?"

February 14th – Valentines Day dinner

March 6th – Locker Club Dinner
March 22nd – Winery Open House

Todd (my bro-in-law the wine maker) chatting up folks at Open House

Todd (my bro-in-law the wine maker) chatting up folks at Open House

April 19th – Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Who Da Bunny!

Who Da Bunny!

May 7th – “PINK” Party (Breast cancer fund raiser)

Pink Party ladies

Pink Party ladies

May 11th -Mothers Day Dinner
May 15th – 1st Cruse In of the Season

Metal Muscle Nights

Metal Muscle Nights

June 28th – 1st Lt. Ashley White Stumpf Memorial Day

July 19th – NEW EVENT! Food/Farm/Fun/Farmathalone, Kids Dream Day

Farmathalone gang

Farmathalone gang

July 26th – International Dance Day special event

August – We have no scheduled on farm events as we go into final approach for the Fall Harvest Season

Oh Boy Here comes Fall!

Oh Boy Here comes Fall!

September 13th – Corn Maze Opens ( This is a time of year where more things start to happen as we approach October)
September 27th – Balloon Lift; This also marks the beginning of expanded offerings centered around the corn maze and pick your own pumpkins

October 11th & 12th – Megasauras Days, Big event details on web site and will have its own blog post later.

Mega flaming car 2013

Mega flaming car 2013

November 28th & 29th – Christmas Tree Viewing Days

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast with Santa


December 13th & 20th Breakfast with Santa

This is a listing of our “Core events”. Please keep in mind we will be also going off site to wine pours if you would like to join us.

Vintner's Dinner seating

Vintner's Dinner seating


Plus we have the monthly events such as our Vintner Dinners held the 3rd Thursday of each month, Wine’d up Wednesdays starting May and more. I’d keep going but you’re probably tired to scrolling already! In future blog post we will break down each event on its own, thank you for stopping by!