THE CORN MAZE MISSION
Youth Farm Bible Camp attracts hundreds of campers every year
In 1941, a bible camp for youth was held at the Rosthern Experimental Farm site. Cost for the weekend retreat was fifty cents; campers slept in the hayloft of the dairy barn. The emphasis of the camp back then was growing in relationship with Jesus Christ. Seventy-seven years later, the camp continues, and the emphasis remains the same.
Thanks to the persistence and prayers of three Rosthern area men, J. C. Schmidt, Henry Friesen, and Isaac Epp, the Rosthern Experimental Farm site was purchased in 1943 for $20,000, and the Youth Farm Bible Camp was established. A local farmer would have paid more, but Federal Agriculture Minister James Gardiner had been approached by one of the men requesting that the Youth Society be allowed to purchase the land and buildings. Gardiner liked the Society’s plan to use the farm for humanitarian causes. This perception arose from Henry Friesen’s passion for caring for the needs of the poor, the sick, and the elderly, and for providing a strong evangelical program for children and youth.
The program has morphed over the years, and Mark Wurtz, executive director of Youth Farm Bible Camp (YFBC) since 2001, says programming at the farm today is mainly summer camps for kids and youth, including a five-week camp for adults with disabilities.
YFBC, a partner of Mennonite Church Saskatchewan, has a yearround staff of seven, with up to 20 more in summer. It operates a junior staff program which offers disciplining and encouragement for teens who wish to serve as counsellors-in-training, wranglers-intraining, and kitchen helpers.
Every year teams of YFBC young people go on a mission trip to Mexico to build houses. Last year a small group visited Israel on a learning tour.
But YFBC is more than a camp. It is an operational farm site that includes livestock. Horses are kept in a hip-roof barn that was donated some years ago.
“For the past 30 years we have offered horseback riding lessons,” Wurtz says. “Now we’re making our program more intensive by offering equine-assisted learning for people with behavioural issues. This will be offered in conjunction with area schools.” A brand-new riding arena is under construction to allow for a year-round program.
Youth Farm Bible Camps are open to everyone and draw many hundreds of campers each year. “Some hear of us through events we do in the community,” Wurtz says, “some through our website, or former campers. Or they may have been out to visit our corn maze.”
In late summer and fall, the Youth Farm becomes a destination and “a fall experience for families. The corn maze is the drawing card, but we have much more for families to enjoy and experience.”
The YFBC corn maze occupies eight acres of land. It is planted solidly with cattle silage corn, and once the corn plants are established, paths are sprayed out working on a square grid.
Each year the design for the maze is different. This year’s design is The Nativity. “This is in keeping with Behold, our camp theme this year,” Wurtz says. “That word is often associated with the birth of Christ.”
“We get a lot of questions like, ‘What is this place?’ and ‘Why do you do what you do?’” Wurtz says. “That gives us the opportunity to minister to people, to tell them about our faith, the love of God, and his love for people. We’ve borrowed the philosophy of Chickfil-A in the U.S., which is to meet people’s needs. In serving people, we are bringing our mission to the corn maze. Everything we do here is geared toward sharing Jesus with people and providing a place for young people to serve.”
The YFBC corn maze is open from 1 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and long-weekend Mondays throughout August, September and October. Admission of $13.25 plus tax entitles the wristband-wearer to participate in any or all of the many activities available.
Besides the corn maze, the farm has a petting zoo with nine different types of farm animals, wagon rides, a climbing wall, a 35 x 70foot inflated jumping pillow, potato cannons, Pedal Karts and track, soccer ball and football throw, and the Rider Pride Train. The Corn Pitt is like a sand pit filled with corn kernels from last year’s harvested corn maze. (Next year the corn in the Pitt will be recycled as feed for the farm animals.) Visitors can also visit the Pumpkin Barn with its thousands of pumpkins, and avail themselves of the food services provided.
Wurtz says up to 1,500 people a day take advantage of the country fair atmosphere. Income from the corn maze goes a long way toward supporting the camp ministry throughout the year.
For more information, visit www.youthfarmcornmaze.com.