Many thanks go out to this year’s sponsors and participating vendors. Below is a list, with contact info, of those who supported us in Branson!

Sponsors

Binders
McNeil Printing (801-221-2555)

Name Badges:
Cawley Company (800-822-9539)

Bags
Cornfield Promotions (765-569-2603)

Campfire Social beverages
Cajun Country Corn (225-357-4924) & AgPro Marketing (559-363-5433)

Snack Packs
Wristband Resources (262/754-5854)

Vendors

Alechemedia, 801-885-8128

Cajun Country Corn, 225-357-4924

AgPro Marketing/Pizza Farm, 559-363-5433

Westland Insurance Service, 608-768-0401

Primte Pedal Karts, 866-475-0450

Binkley & Hurst Pedal Karts, 800-414-4705

Cawley Company, 800-822-9539

GEP Productions, 330-392-6527

Halloween Productions Inc., 314-629-3940

Signs of the Seasons, 219-866-4507

Paintings by Lisa, 518-881-7200

Virginia Toy & Novelty, 757-313-7000

Eckert AgriMarketing, 314-862-6288

White Hutchinson Learning & Resource Group (816-931-1040)

ATM: Kirk Berggren (913-484-6251)

This year, instead of posting the presentations here on the blog, we’ll be returning to our previous method of including them on a conference dvd that is mailed to all attendees. Along with the presentations, the dvd will include the Year in Review video and some video highlights from our time in Branson. If you did not attend the conference, but would like a copy of the dvd, they are available for $25. Please just submit your order via email.

We’ll be ending this year’s Corn Party with a bus tour that features lots of learning…both on and off the bus. Our time on the bus will provide plenty of time for networking, discussion groups, watching tv commercials and/or promo videos submitted by fellow MAiZE owners, etc. Here’s a more in-depth look at what we’ll be seeing off the bus…

Lambert’s

Our first stop will be lunch at the renowned Lambert’s Restaurant in Sikeston, MO, sure to be an experience in and of itself. Dozens of hot rolls are flying through the air every few minutes at LAMBERT’S, so we’ll all need to be alert! Known for serving PLENTY of pass-around food, the invitation they extend is to “Come visit us and have some fun and good food — we flat appreciate your business.”

Their first roll was thrown in 1976 by Norman Lambert. At the original location, he would walk around and hand out the rolls. One day it was really busy when Norman couldn’t get through the crowd….one of the customers yelled to him ” Throw the D*** thing!”. And with that The ONLY HOME OF THROWED ROLLS was born.

With plenty of yummy food, fun decor and a one-of-a-kind environment, this will make a perfect lunch stop!

Beggs Family Farm

Operated by MAiZE members Donnie and Sheila Beggs, our first farm stop of the day has plenty to explore! Whether you’re looking for good examples of attractions and layout, food and retail, or haunting, Beggs Family Farm has a little bit of everything. Some of their fall attractions include: moonlight barnyard golf, pig races, a barnyard Twister vortex, bonfires, animal displays, a monster slide and more!

Eckert’s Orchards

Following our stop at Beggs Family Farm, we’ll continue on closer to St. Louis. Our second and third farm stops will be at Eckert’s Millstadt and Belleville farms. The latter of the two will be our dinner stop at their country restaurant, and the first represents one of our industry’s best entertainment farms.

For those of you joining us on the Thursday bus tour to Silver Dollar City, here’s a sneak peek at some of what you might see at this non-traditional theme park that’s sure to compliment our workshops at the hotel with a great day of outdoor learning and networking!

 ”After visiting Silver Dollar City last fall it was apparent it would be one of the highlights for the 2010 conference. There are so many great ideas that are simple and very useable for us on the farm. It is a fun place to visit, but will also be a great learning day for all of our farms — whether you are just starting out or very seasoned to this business.”
- Brett Herbst, The MAiZE Inc. 

“Silver Dollar City has been the source of a lot of the ideas implemented on our farm and has great examples of décor, entertainment, food, retail, customer service and more. Everyone should definitely plan to bring their cameras and notebooks on this bus tour. It may be an amusement park, but all the learning opportunities will make this a “work day” for our group!”
- Jan Vala, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch

Big Cedar Lodge, America’s premier wilderness resort, is the site of this year’s conference. Located just a few miles outside of Branson, in the Ozark mountains, it’s definitely one of the most beautiful and unique venues we’ve ever hosted our conference at. Following is information on both Big Cedar, as well as the hotel we are recommending for those of you continuing on to St. Louis.
Nights of March 22-25
Big Cedar Wilderness Resort
612 Devil’s Pool Rd.
Ridgedale, MO 65739
417-339-5233
bigcedar.com

* We have negotiated rates beginning at $103/night. For reservations, tell them you would like a room within the MAiZE conference block. Click here for a description of rooms in our block. The block will be held until March 22, but may sell out earlier. Cancellations must be made 21 days in advance for a full refund.

Nights of March 26+
Hampton Inn – Gateway Arch
333 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-621-7900
Click here to book a room at the blocked rate.

* The Haunted Attractions Show has negotiated a blocked rate of $99/night, which includes breakfast. For those booking at this hotel, our bus will drop you off there at the conclusion of our bus tour on March 26.

Once this block is full, you can book at another hotel where the HAA Show has negotiated discounted rates. Here is a list of other hotel options.

This year we’ve selected dates for our Corn Party in Branson that allow you to also attend the last 2 days of the Halloween & Attractions Show in St. Louis. To make this as easy as possible, we’ve arranged for…

1. The final bus tour will take you to St. Louis and drop you at a hotel near the convention center. We recommend the Hampton Inn at 314-621-7900. Reserve within the block arranged by the HAA Show for $99/night. If the Hampton Inn is full, you can find other options with blocked rates here.

2. Free admission to the tradeshow for our attendees without you having to submit any paperwork! You’ll get namebadge in Branson.

3. You will receive 50% off the first workshop you register for! Workshops are $40 each and any member of the MAiZE group will receive one workshop at a rate of $20 if you sign up for it in advance using a special promo code. Click here for information on the special code.

For those who’ve never attended this tradeshow. It’s particularly great for those who haunt, but does have interesting workshops and tradeshow booths that would apply to even non-haunters. 

Visit www.haashow.com for more details. 

Click here to view and print the 2010 registration form. A hard copy is being mailed to all current MAiZE owners the first week of December. When you are ready to register, just mail the form with payment to:

Kamille Combs
The MAiZE
1209 E. 900 S.
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062

Registration forms are due by February 15. Don’t forget to read the announcement below about how to save $20 on each registration!

We invite all of you to share your best ideas in a new conference session entitled “Adding Value & Revenue on a Shoestring Budget.” No thanks to Mother Nature, this past fall was a difficult one for many of you. With this in mind, our goal for the session will be to share as many cost-effective, easy-to-implement ideas as possible. Five categories will be highlighted:

1. Best new attraction under $1000

2. Best sponsorship or marketing idea

3. Best decor sample (i.e., signs, fall decorations, etc.)

4. Best special event idea

5. Best haunting idea under $1000

When you submit photos or video demonstrating new & unique ideas for at least 3 of the 5 categories (either your farm or another location you’ve visited), you can deduct $20 from the conference registration for each adult registered for the Wednesday sessions.  Just submit your photos or video by email or mail, prior to submitting your registration. There will be a prize for the top idea in each category!

Dates: March 23-26, 2010
Though later than usual, these dates have been selected to tie in with the Transworld Haunt & Attractions Show that will be held March 26-28, 2010 in St. Louis. Many of you have attended this show in the past and it is a great learning opportunity for those involved in haunting.

Where: Branson, MO
A popular and family-friendly vacation destination, Branson is full of entertainment – with more than 50 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, an international award-winning theme park, dozens of attractions and museums and more. Branded “the live music show capital of the world”, it is located in the midst of the Ozark mountains and is less than a day’s drive for one-third of Americans.

Branson opened its own airport in May 2009 and there are limited flights arriving there now. There is also an airport around 30 minutes away in Springfield, MO.  For those interested in going to the St. Louis haunt show, we’ll be “bus touring” up to St. Louis and you’ll want to schedule a flight home from there.

Hotel: Big Cedar Lodge (www.bigcedar.com)
We’ll be headed to the great outdoors for our 10th annual conference! Big Cedar Lodge is the Ozark’s premier wilderness resort and we have negotiated rates beginning at $103 at this amazing property. Located just 10 miles south of Branson on Table Rock Lake and tucked into the wooded hillsides of the Ozark Mountains, this popular vacation paradise resides. Just like the entire town of Branson, it is very family friendly and has a kids club where you can check your child in for a day of fun and learning. 

Proposed Agenda

Tuesday, March 23: Pre-Conference Bus Tour
-Visit the College of the Ozarks campus (includes fruitcake & jelly kitchen, grist mill, tractor museum and more) For those who are hungry, you can buy yummy breakfast snacks, made fresh at the student-run bakery. (www.cofo.edu)
- A visit to the Titanic Museum (www.titanicbranson.com)
-Lunch and shopping at Branson Landing (www.bransonlanding.com)
- A tour of Branson via land and water aboard the Ride the Ducks tour (www.bransonducks.com)
- Dinner at the Dixie Stampede (www.dixiestampede.com/branson)

Wednesday, March 24
- Meetings at the hotel

Thursday, March 25
- Visit to Silver Dollar City (www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com)

Friday, March 26
Bus Tour Enroute to St. Louis
- Lunch at Lambert’s Café (www.throwedrolls.com)
- Beggs Family Farm (www.beggsfamilyfarm.com)
- Tour and dinner at Eckert’s Orchard (www.eckerts.com)
-Drop attendees at St. Louis hotel

Saturday and/or Sunday, March 27-28
On your own to explore the 15th Annual Halloween & Attractions Show (www.haashow.com) 

For more information about Branson, visit www.explorebranson.com.

Following are the farms who were recognized at the 2009 Conference.  We’ll be adding images of their winning entries soon, plus you can visit the photo gallery for some great shots of the winners celebrating at Dewberry Farm!

Best Print Advertising
Cobb Ranch; Madera, CA

Best Brochure
Dewberry Farm;  Brookshire, TX

Best Flyer/Coupon
Rock Ranch; The Rock, GA
Smoky Hill Bison; Assaria, KS

Best Aerial Photo
Summers Farm; Frederick, MD
Fritzler Corn Maze; LaSalle, CO
Fiddlesticks Farm; Midkiff, TX

Top New Farm Award
Fiddlesticks Farm; Midkiff, TX

Golden Heart Award
Kackleberry Farm, Mitch & Lisa Vaughn

Most Inspirational Award
Huntsville Maze – in honor of Stan Summerlin

Highest Attendance Award
Dewberry Farm; Brookshire, TX
McCall’s Pumpkin Patch; Moriarty, NM
Vala’s Pumpkin Patch; Gretna, NE