This year’s corn maze design at Kraay Family Farm in Lacombe celebrates 25 years of the farm. (Contributed image)

Central Alberta’s Kraay Family Farm celebrates 25 years of sharing agriculture adventures

July 17, 2024 // by Sean McIntosh

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Kraay Family Farm has has served as a space of family fun in Central Alberta for a quarter century.

Marking its 25th anniversary this year, the Lacombe farm’s annual corn maze reflects that milestone, with the design containing the message “Celebrating KR25Y Years.”

“It seems kind of crazy we’re celebrating 25 years already,” Rachel Kraay says.

The corn maze features a new design every year.

“We usually start thinking about our design in the new year. The family decides what kind of image or theme would look good,” Kraay says.

“Once we do that, we work with the designer that designs mazes who we’ve worked with for 25 years. They make sure it’s not too easy or too hard, and everything connects properly.”

Prior to being the agricultural entertainment site Kraay Family Farm is today, it was a hog operation.

“Hog prices were not great at that point, so my husband Reuben’s parents, Ed and Linda Kraay, were looking to diversify their farm. Reuben had seen a corn maze when he was out and about travelling, and he suggested it to his parents. They’re spontaneous people and decided to give it a try,” Kraay says.

“They started the corn maze, as Lacombe Corn Maze, with a couple friends of theirs — they did that for five years before we bought their friends out and joined them. Eventually we decided to get totally out of animals and go all in on the agri-tainment.”

The family tries to add a new attraction every year.

“The 15-acre corn maze used to be the main attraction. We had a fire pit or two and a big slide. You were able to buy a pop or two as well. But now, I think people spend far more time on the farm area itself. There are just so many different things to do and we always look forward to building those things,” Kraay says.

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The farm’s season officially began on Monday.

“There are a lot of kids who have been counting down the days to come out to the farm. A lot of them come the first day,” Kraay says.

If you go:

Take Exit 422B on QE2 – 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) west of Lacombe, Alta.. Go 1.6km (1 mile) west of the Hwy 2 overpass on Hwy 12, then 0.8km (1/2 mile) south on Range Road 27-3. Watch for the signs!
To plan your visit to Kraay Family Farm, visit kraayfamilyfarm.com and stay up to date with the latest news on Facebook and Instagram.

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