Back Home at the Farm

Gary and Lynn Hess own Back Home at the Farm. The farm has been in the family since 1959, which at the time the farm was a cow calf operation. Then in 1978 they had a wholesale greenhouse. In 1995, shrubs became a retail operation on Route 11. They do not do landscaping but they do stay open for Christmas sells. They now have 100 brood cows and participate in cross fencing and self watering projects. They are a seasonal greenhouse/agro-tourism business that house a 6 acre corn maze, a 60 foot underground slide.

They have many field trips from pre-k to 1st graders and more tours in the fall than the spring. There are about 5,000 kids that come through each year and over 25,000 people each year. This is the first agro-tourism farm in Rockingham County and needed a special use permit to start the business.


With the field trips the students wanted a pumpkin patch more than the corn maze. They grow 9-10 acres of pumpkins each year and still have to buy in more pumpkins. They have begun to do more online advertising and less advertising on the radio and in the newspaper. Each year they have a different maze design and is designed by a company out of Utah. It was very hard to find insurance but once they did find some it costs them $3-4,000 each year just for the company. They report each accident in case anything becomes of it.

This was very interesting to hear about and the slide was sooo much fun! Ferrum really needs one! This is a way for people to continue to do what they love but make money at the same time.