Ontario Farmer, Helen Lammers-Helps: Farm fun by day, frightening by night

After sitting down to talk with John and Meghan Snyder, in between school tours at their farm near Plattsville, Ontario, one wonders when they find the time to sleep.

This time of year, along with the school tours, they offer a host of family activities during the day such as a corn maze, hay rides, petting zoo, straw mountain (a playground made from straw bales) and pick-your-own pumpkin patch. At night, thrill seekers come out for the Haunted Barn, Hay Ride of Horror and Ghostly Corn Maze.

The Snyders also host birthday parties and corporate events.

This is also the time of year they have to make their purchases for their spring season when they will grow a greenhouse full of hanging baskets, perennials and bedding plants along with 15 acres of pumpkins, squash and Indian corn. In the spring they sell retail from the farm seven days a week as well selling at the St. Jacob's Farmers Market. They also supply several municipalities and landscapers with hanging baskets and plants.

"You really have to think ahead in this business," emhasizes John.

John purchased the former tobacco farm seven years ago. Raised on a hobby cow-calf farm near St. Agatha, he saw the value-added greenhouse and Halloween activities on the farm as an opportunity to pursue farming full-time. "How else would you make a living off 120 acres?" he queries. He figures he'd have to have a full-time job off the farm to make ends meet otherwise.

John also loves Halloween and when he was a kid used to build haunted houses in the basement of the family's home. "Then I'd make my sister go through them," he says with a laugh.

Before meeting John a little over four years ago, Meghan had not envisioned a life on the farm, but she has taken to it like a fish to water. She looks completely at home on the farm but admits that she thrives on the interaction with the kids.

"I love seeing the kids having a good time," she says.

On the other hand, John wouldn't have believed he would be growing flowers but now he enjoys the challenge. In addition to growing and selling plants in the spring, they now grow and sell Chrysanthemums in the fall which helps round out the year.

Meghan attributes their success to their differing backgrounds. John bring skills as a grower and operations manager. Meghan, who has a degree in Business and Recreation from the University of Waterloo, brings expertise in marketing, customer relations and staff management to what they call their "agri-tainment" business.

Another key part of their success is their staff. Many are young people who return year after year as well as some friends and family.

The Snyders make a point of treating their staff well. "We treat them like family," says Meghan.

This time of year they have about 30 young people helping them and they try to make it a positive experience for them. "For many this is their first job," Meghan explains.

Each year they hold "Employee Idol" and have a staff party to build staff morale.

The Snyders also try to empower staff by encouraging them to make their own decisions on the job. As a result she find the employees are passionate and put a lot of energy into their work.

The Snyders also put a lot of emphasis on staff training. "It's expensive but you have to do it," says Meghan who is extremely safety conscious.

THIS YEAR the Snyders re-branded from Kimglow Farm to Snyders Family Farm. They had been thinking about it for a while, explains Meghan, but about a year ago they decided now was the right time.

"We wanted to emphasize all of the aspects of the farm and to put our name on it," she says. Although it's been a lot of work developing a new logo, revamping the web site, changing signage, etc., it's been worth it, says Meghan. "It feels even better than I thought it would to put our name on it," she says with a smile.

They also have plans to expand the operation into a four-season destination. They plan to grow pesticide-free fruits and vegetables and sell them from the farm.

"I want to grow the kinds of things I want to eat," explains Meghan. Apple orchards, raspberries, strawberries and market vegetables are in the plans.

As part of the expansion, the Snyders built another greenhouse, this one accessible from Oxford County Rd. 8 (formerly Highway 97.)

They are trying to move more of their operations toward Oxford Rd 8 where there is more space to expand and more visibility from the heavier trafficked road.

For more information on Snyder Family Farm, go to www.snydersfamilyfarm.com