Carolyn's Country Cousins

Uncle Lester Celebrates Seven Years of Racing Pigs

Gieselle — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:33:11 +0000

Uncle Lester

Lester is going into his seventh year of coaching pigs at his weekend pig races that are a popular attraction. The actor, comedian, singer, playwright and musician once toured with “The Seem To Be Players” children theater company playing the Big Bad Wolf in their production of “Three Little Pigs.”

Lester answered an online notice from the pumpkin patch and was hired to run pig races. “I love helping people have fun in a cheerful, family environment and show,” he says. “I am delighted when I can get the kids and the grownups laughing at the same time.”

Coaching pigs for racing requires positive and negative reinforcement. “Have fresh food for them at the end of the race, don’t mistreat them or physically abuse them and make a lot of noise behind them if they aren’t moving along at least at a moderate pace,” says Coach Lester. “By the end of the second weekend, they know exactly what to do. Bythe fourth weekend, most of them seem to enjoy the activity.”

The winning pig gets first dibs on the food that has been set out. “This gets more important to them as they beg bigger and the smaller ones want a chance before the dominant pig takes the first place at the food,” he says. He has seen pigs trick the others during the race.

And the pigs are off to the races!

“My favorite of this sort was this pig who developed a neat trick of suddenly doing a 180 degree turn as if he was going to run the other
way,” he says. “All the other pigs would stop in confusion. Then he did another quick reverse turn and tore off for the finish line and won the food bowl!” The other pigs caught onto the trick after several races.

You can catch Uncle Lester’s famous pig races at the top of every hour on the weekends. Tell Uncle Lester hi next time you see him.

Carolyn’s Country Cousins Offers Wine Collection

Gieselle — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 21:59:46 +0000

Did you know that Missouri is becoming the Napa Valley of the Midwest? Missouri-grown grapes that are turned into wine is fast becoming another Midwest delicacy. We have the perfect climate for growing wine grapes with our temperate spring and fall temperatures.

We offer a collection of sweet and semi-sweet red wines. Uncle Carl’s Ruby Railroad Red Wine is a tantalizing blended sweet red wine with wild aromas reminiscent of raspberries, mulberries and other wild berries that dazzle the palate with layers or ripe fruit. Uncle Carl’s Ruby Red full bodied wine is a blend of Missouri Concord, St. vincent and Chambourcin grapes. We dedicated this to the memory of Uncle Carl because the wine is as robust as Carl himself.

As a prospector of the land, Carl lived off a quiet dirt road through gently rolling hills. He took pride in combining the right soil with the perfect variety of berries, maturing them with the warm August sun and cool Missouri nights, creating flavors that were unmatched.

You also can enjoy Uncle Bud’s Railroad Red Semi-Sweet Red Wine. This semi-sweet has a soft, charming character with light and fruity aromas and is broadly appealing as it reveals the uniqueness of the Missouri St. Vincent grape. This sweet red wine has a charmingly smooth finish. This wine is named in honor of Uncle Bud. Uncle Bud was a man who loved the adventure of the railroad. He lived down a gravel road, near banks of the Missouri River.

To purchase any of these delectable wines, call us at 816.781.9196.

We have pumpkins!

Gieselle — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:36:31 +0000

You’ve probably been following the news about drought conditions affecting crops in the Midwest. And recently Channel 41′s NBC Action News reported of a pumpkin patch in the Northland closing because it didn’t have any pumpkins. I’m happy to report that we have one of the best crops of pumpkins in several seasons and we’re excited about hosting you for our 22nd season!

We'll have a field of pumpkins waiting for you to pick this fall!

How have we managed to weather the drought that’s closing down other pumpkin patches in the area? First, we’re a fifth generation family farm experienced with handling the the unpredictable availability of water. Our farm is in the rich Missouri river bottom where the static water table is only 16 feet below the surface of the ground.

We planted our pumpkins after a quick shower when pumpkins could grow quickly and outgrow weeds that compete with pumpkins for nutrients and moisture. When conditions are dry at the beginning of a plant’s life, the plant’s thirst drive very deep roots to look for moisture. This creates conditions for a healthier plant that might be stressed from too little rain.

We also don’t plant all of our pumpkins in one field. We have a field of pumpkins designated for students visiting from schools. Our fields vary in conditions. Pollination is also important for a healthy pumpkin patch. Our bee keeper strategically places bee hives around the field to pollinate the plants.

As you can see, strategy, careful planning and experience have protected our pumpkin patch from the drought conditions. We’re excited to see you on August 31st at the Liberty Corn Maze and on September 15th at the Pumpkin Patch.

We’re Hiring!

Gieselle — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:51:10 +0000

We’re hosting a job fair on Saturday, August 4^th from 9 am to noon and Monday, August 7^th from 4pm to 7pm at the Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch Red Barn at 17607 NE 52^nd St., Liberty, MO. “We hire over 100 seasonal and temporary workers,” says Carolyn Raasch, owner of Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch. “Our season starts September 15 and ends Halloween. But before then, we still need help preparing for the season.”

We hire temporary workers for Food Preparation, Baking, Cashier, Tractor Driver, Cart Runner, Kettle Corn Popper, Actor/Actress, Animal Worker, Retail, Landscaper, Mechanic, Carpenter, Handyman, Tour Guide, Farm Hand, and Janitorial Work, to name a few. “The positions are ideal for students, retirees or anyone seeking to supplement their income,” says Raasch. “Working at Carolyn’s Country Cousins is a fun and rewarding experience, and we encourage everyone—students, stay-at-home moms, teachers, doctors, retirees, grandpas and grandmothers—to apply. We are always looking for reliable help during the weekends.”

Work locations include Admissions, Express Checkout, Uncle Earls’ Mining, Country Cousin’s Café, Kettle Corn Building, Little Bud’s Railroad Depot, Antique Pedal Tractor Carousel, Animal Barn, Tractor Rides, Little Farmer’s Play Yard, and the White Barn. Applicants must download the application from www.carolynscountrycousins.com and bring it filled out with a Social Security card or Driver’s license as well as a list of days and hours of availability. Applicants must be age 16 and over.

Carolyn’s Country Cousins is Kansas City’s premier agricultural eco-tourism attraction. The farm includes approximately 60 acres planted in pumpkins, corn, and soybeans, plus another 20 acres set aside for pumpkin entertainment and farm fun.

Visit Us at the Kansas City Midwest Kids Fest!

Gieselle — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:07:20 +0000

We’re going to be a the 2012 Kansas City Midwest Kids Fest on July 28 – July 29 from 10 am to 5pm at the Overland Park Convention Center. Drop by our booth to get a free ticket into our famous Liberty Corn Maze or Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch. There are going to be a lot of kids activities at the Kids Fest.

Besides visiting us, your kids will enjoy:

Door Prizes
Stage Entertainment
Demonstrations
Interactive Workshops
Bouncehouse
Moonwalk
Obstacle Course
Exotic Petting Zoo
Cutest Baby/Kid Contest
Games
Kids Characters
Magician
Storytime
Local author appearances

There’s an admission fee but kids under age 1 are free. Below is a coupon for $2 off an adult ticket. Hope to see you there!

Corn Maze Design Showcases Harvester’s Logo

Gieselle — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:22:06 +0000

When you fly over Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch and the Liberty Corn Maze, you’ll see the Harvesters Community Food Network logo. The Liberty Corn Maze is launching a food drive for Harvester’s during Hunger Action Month in September. For a maximum of 2 cans donated, you will be able to get $2 off your ticket to the corn maze.*

The Liberty Corn Maze opens August 31st. “We’re excited about supporting Harvesters Community Food Network,” says Carolyn Raasch, owner of Carolyn’s Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch. “We’re a working farm family that has made a living from providing quality produce to feed families. Now we’re reaching out to needy families with this drive.”

The corn maze cutter spent 18 hours on a tractor carefully cutting the path for the maze. Put August 31st on your calendar and plan to come with 2 cans to the Liberty Corn Maze! You’ll combat hunger and enjoy your friends and family in the maze that has the Harvesters logo.

*Cannot be combined with any other offers

Farmers Markets Gave Birth to the Idea of Carolyn’s Country Cousins

Gieselle — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:19:27 +0000

Did you know that the idea for Carolyn’s Country Cousins and Pumpkin Patch was born from our days selling our produce at area farmer’s markets? We heard a longing from many of our customers to return to the farm lifestyle. Of course farming is pure hard work that’s non-stop. Yet the lifestyle and work of farming is thriving despite the increase of imported produce and meat.

We still farm today and you might have enjoyed our sweet corn grown in the rich Missouri river bottom. If you haven’t, stop by any of these farmer’s markets and say hi while buying corn. We’re at these area farmer’s markets:

History Downtown Liberty Farmer’s Markets
Gladstone Farmers Markets

Check our page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for updates on where you can buy our delectable sweet corn. You can also purchase large quantities of sweet corn ahead of time by appointment. Call Gieselle at 816.809.3344 to set up an appointment.

In the meantime, here’s a recipe from thekitchn.com for sweet corn.

Elote
makes 4 servings

Elote or Mexican Corn on the Cob

4 ears of corn
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Cotija cheese (Parmesan will work if you can’t find it)
2 limes, cut into wedges
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
salt

Prepare a grill or grill pan with high heat. Keep corn in husks, or remove one strip of husks. Place directly on grill. Cook for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until husks are well blackened and the kernels are bright yellow.

If serving on the cob, remove husks and slather each ear with a generous spoonful of mayonnaise. Add the juice of one lime wedge per ear, followed by a pinch of salt, a healthy sprinkle of cheese and a light dusting of cumin and chili powder.

If serving off the cob, cut the kernels off of each ear. Place into a jar or small cup and top with remaining ingredients.

If you prefer, serve the corn with the toppings on the side and let everyone dress their own.

101 Uses for Poop

Gieselle — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:48:06 +0000

(Source: Arizona Museum of Natural History)

Next fall we’re going to have a Poop Museum. Here are some ways that poop is used by animals.

Crab Spiders disguise themselves as poop to catch moths.

Latrines or community toilets also act as message boards. “A quick sniff can tell an animal who did the poop, how old they were, what sex they were, and if they were head of the pack or at the bottom of the pile.” (Davies)
Groups of animals use poop to mark their territory. It’s their way of saying, “This is our area, stay away!”
Some insects disguise themselves as poop. Crab spiders do this to catch moths. Swallowtail Butterfly larvas do this to keep themselves from being eaten by predators.
Scent marking: Some animals poop on the trails that they walk on to let other animals know that they have been there. Hippos use this method for navigation to find their way back to the river after a night of feasting on land.
Secretary birds use dried Zebra poop to build their nests.
The Maasai Tribe in Africa mix cow poop with ashes to make the walls of their huts.
Millipedes make their nests out of their own poop and coat their eggs in poop to protect them.
After animals eat fruits and berries, the seeds from those fruits and berries come out in the animals’ poop. As the animals poop they are actually depositing fertilized seeds that can grow into new plants.
Some birds, like the turkey vulture, squirt poop on their legs to cool off.
Termites mix poop with chewed wood to build termite mounds; making termite mounds the largest structure made of poop. They also use poop as fertilizer to help their food grow.

Plan to visit us in the fall to see our Poop Museum. Of course this is just one of the many activities you and your friends and family can enjoy while visiting us.

Poop Museum to Open Fall 2012

Gieselle — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:03:46 +0000

Did you know that there’s a branch of science devoted to the study of poop? Scatology is the study of feces or poop. Scientists can learn about the animal’s diet, health, DNA and behavior by studying their poop. The scientific word for poop that has been fossilized is “Coprolites.”

Ancient coprolite

We will have a Poop Museum on site this fall. Here are some fascinating historical facts about poop from the Arizona Museum of Natural History.

The oldest known human poop or “corprolite” in North America was discovered in Oregon’s Paisley Cave. The fossilized poop is about 14,000 years old and contains squirrel bones, bison hair, fish scales, sunflowers and protein from birds and dogs. This means that the person probably ate squirrel, bison, fish, sunflowers, birds and dogs.

Dinosaur poop has been discovered in Saskatchewan Canada. The coprolite is 20 inches long and weighs over 15 pounds. The poop was packed with bone fragments and is believed to be from a T Rex. Yikes! I would not have wanted to be around when T Rex was going to the bathroom.

Next week we’re going to talk about the 101 uses of poop. In the meantime, plan to visit Carolyn’s Country Cousins to check out their poop museum this fall.

Relay for Life Fundraiser on Facebook

Gieselle — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:20:09 +0000

We’ve started a fundraiser for Relay for Life in Liberty on Sunday at midnight. For every new like on our Facebook page and new follower on Twitter, we’re donating $1 to Relay for Life. Relay for Life is a life-changing event that helps communities across the globe celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight against the disease.

This year, Relay for Life in Liberty is celebrating the caregiver, a key player in the fight against cancer. “They can be going through just as much as the loved ones in their care,” said Julie Davidson, Relay For Life of Liberty co-chair. The Relay for Life in Liberty will be on Friday, June 22 at the South Valley Junior High School track.

On Saturday, 22-year-old Alisa Funk will share her story of being a 16-year-old caregiver to her parents who battled cancer. Funk will speak at the survivor’s dinner in the South Valley Junior High School commons area. Today her parents are cancer free in Princeton, MO.

Our fundraiser ends midnight June 11th. Please share with your friends and family so we can help families and caregivers like Alisa.