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Meeker Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Supports Minnesota Communities

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Meeker Cooperative’s Operation Round Up Supports Minnesota Communities

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A Maze’n Farmyard, a family amusement park run by Paul and Sheila Haag, has been in operation for more than eight years. At the park, guests find affordable entertainment opportunities, including a maze, corn pit, and petting zoo. Active within its community, A Maze’n Farmyard belongs to the Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association and Sheila Haag serves on the Meeker Cooperative Electric Trust Board.

Since 1935, Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association has been providing safe, competitively priced energy services to upwards of 8,000 residential accounts. To best serve its members, the member-owned cooperative is involved in numerous programs, including Operation Round Up. This program gives members the option of rounding up their energy bill to the next highest dollar. By doing so, individuals contribute to the organization’s community fund.

Operation Round Up is a voluntary program and Meeker Cooperative members can choose to not participate. The program is run by the Meeker Cooperative Electric Trust Board, a giving organization run by volunteers, and it gives the Trust Board the ability to issue grants to charities and community projects in March, August, and December. These grants go toward supporting scholarships for high school students, helping residents earn their degrees, and assisting local youth programs, community events, and fire departments.

More than 70 percent of Meeker Cooperative members participating in Operation Round Up contribute less than one dollar per energy bill. These small contributions help raise over $40,000 every year.

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Located on Hwy 55 West of Eden Valley, MN

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Kim Johnson and Kylie Bearse took a detour to Eden Valley. WCCO 4 News At 6 - July 16, 2015

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By Julie Bulau, Staff writer

Getting up close and personal with a wallaby, bottle feeding a fawn or racing down the giant slide are just a few of the attractions found at A maze'n Farmyard west of Eden Valley.

In its ninth season of operation, the A maze'n Farmyard offers fun for all ages. Living up to its name, the farmyard features everything from a gigantic maze, to loads of farmyard animals to a newly-constructed bird house which is home to 250 parakeets.

Paul and Sheila Haag own and operate the business which is open seven days a week from Memorial Day through Labor Day and Saturdays and Sundays in September and October. It's a family affair with the couple's three grown children, Andrea, Kyle and Evan, as well as 11-year-old Noah helping in varies capacities.

Oldest daughter Andrea can be found in the gift shop/concession areas on most days. Her two little boys often accompany her to work and everyone pitches in to help keep an eye on them while Andrea fills in where needed.

"She could run the place," Paul said.

Next in line is Kyle who handles the puppy business, and Evan who oversees a lot of the maintenance. Noah, meanwhile, recently started working a shift.

Traffic varies from day to day. This spring they welcomed more than 1,800 school children. Summer months finds A maze'n Farmyard a popular destination for people staying on the many lakes in the area.

"The lake people really started showing up the last week or so," Paul said.

The Haags have greeted guests from all over the world.

A recent weekday afternoon found visitors from Florida, California and Washington. A map in the main building displays stick pins marking the hometowns of the thousands of visitors who have come through the doorway. All

50 states except Oregon as well as foreign countries from Japan to Italy are represented.

"I love it here," said

Hannah Topp from Florida. "We come every summer." Hannah and Halle, along with their cousin Abbey, were staying with their families at a resort on Lake Koronis.

Animals are the star attractions. In the barn, guests can hold, pet and even help feed a variety of farm animals. Venturing outside, they can then visit the Goat Bridge, Chicken Coop and Pigeon House. Pony rides are also available.

The newest addition this year is the life-size Bird House where visitors can enter with special feeding sticks. The parakeets will perch on the sticks much to the delight of young and old visitors alike.

And last, but not least, are the puppies which have been part of the business from the beginning. "We've been selling dogs for

23 years," Paul said. An area off the gift shop allows visits to see and pet some of the puppies available for sale.

In addition to the animals, there's also the gigantic maze which has been there from the beginning. "The record of making it through is about 15 minutes but it can take up to 45," Sheila said.

There's also mini golf, a giant slide, train rides, a corn pit and the popular Bounce Barn. "We needed something for rainy days," Paul said of the indoor area filled with a number of inflatables.

Tired or hungry guests can take a break at the picnic shelter or playground. Visitors are welcome to bring picnic lunches and there are also concessions for sale. The area is also available for birthday parties, family reunions and company picnics.

A maze'n Farmyard is located about three miles west of Eden Valley on Highway 55. It is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission 3 & older is $9.36 plus tax = $10; and ages 2 and younger are free.

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By Julie Bulau, Staff writer Getting up close and personal with a wallaby, bottle feeding a fawn or racing down the giant slide are just a few of the attractions found at A maze'n Farmyard west of Eden Valley. In its ninth season of operation, the A maze'n Farmyard offers fun for all ages.

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This unique family entertainment center provides excitement and adventure for every member in your family.

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A few weekends ago we decided to go somewhere new with the kids, so after a little searching online, we found something we thought would be worth checking out. It was a risk being an hour away, but the A Maze 'N Farmyard ended up being a lot of fun for the kids. We actually didn't even see or do everything that there was to offer, which is always a good thing. I also didn't take as many pictures as I thought I would... whoops!

One of the big attractions was all of the animals, most of which you are allowed to pet and possibly feed. Enzo got to pet goats and feed them a bottle, but he also got to pet a cow, some bunnies, and most importantly - Bambi. There was the sweetest little fawn that Enzo got to pet. Call me paranoid, but I decided to just look at the animals with Phoebe rather than risk her petting everything and immediately sticking her hands in her mouth. Oh! Don't forget the huge house of birds. Enzo was a little skittish, but one of his favorite animal experiences was the house of parakeets - they just fly all around you, and amazingly we didn't get pooped on.

This was also the first time Enzo got to go on a pony ride. He was excited at first, until he had to get on the actual pony, and then he didn't want to, but Josh went ahead and put him on and after a few seconds he was okay and started to enjoy it.

It may not look like he enjoyed it, but he did go back to ride again!

Aside from the maze (which we didn't go through) there is also a very large slide, which Enzo was excited about from a distance, but a tad reluctant about once they actually got to the top.

Enzo started fighting Josh about going down, so finally he grabbed him, and off they went! Enzo didn't really warm up to it right away...

That's right... a GIF! I'm entering new territory here. 😉 As you can see, Enzo had a death grip on Josh's arm the whole way down. He apparently enjoyed himself, though, because all he wanted to do was go down again... and again... and again.

Phoebe and I enjoyed the nice breeze and watched Enzo enjoy himself on the slide, until Josh suggested that mommy take him down. Honestly? I wasn't all that excited about it, especially when I got to the top with Enzo and looked down. I won't lie... part of me really wanted to back away. I pictured legs getting caught and broken (don't you know you aren't supposed to ride down a slide with a child?!?) and potentially rusty metal pieces slicing through legs. I couldn't let him down, though, so we went... and it was fun.

We wandered around for a while until the sky began to darken and the kids got cranky. Apparently there is an entire bounce barn with several bouncy houses and castles we never made it to, but I'm sure we'll go again this Fall.

How about one more slide gif of Enzo actually enjoying himself? Glad you asked!

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A few weekends ago we decided to go somewhere new with the kids, so after a little searching online, we found something we thought would be worth checking out. It was a risk being an hour away, but the A Maze 'N Farmyard ended up being a lot of fun for the kids.

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Since 2004, A Maze’n Farmyard has operated a family amusement park in Eden Valley, Minnesota, that offers a range of activities for children and the entire family. In addition to its 20,000-square-foot maze and adventure golf attractions, A Maze’n Farmyard operates a real barn and an inflatable “Bounce Barn.”

Comprising five separate inflatable bouncing attractions, the Bounce Barn offers youngsters the chance to jump around and make new friends. Beyond its titular barn-shaped bouncing attraction, the Bounce Barn contains an obstacle course, basketball hoops, and an inflatable slide.

All children must wear socks, which the farmyard sells for $1.50 per pair if needed, while playing in the Bounce Barn. After playing, children can relax with a visit to the farmyard’s real barn, where they can meet and interact with a variety of farm animals, including goats and chickens, and attend the Hayloft, where they can learn more about the animals.

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Keeping Your Children Safe in a Bounce House

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Keeping Your Children Safe in a Bounce House

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A Maze’n Farmyard provides children and adults with a variety of amusement activities and attractions. The centrally located farm is found in Eden Valley, Minnesota, and open most days of the year. Guests of A Maze’n Farmyard may enjoy all of the farm’s attractions, including its bounce barn.

Before letting your child play in a bounce house, make sure to remove all eyeglasses, footwear, and jewelry. Sharp objects, such as keys or pens, should not be allowed in a bounce because they can easily puncture and deflate the structure.

When bouncing with multiple children, your child should be of a similar size and weight as the others. Your child also must be within the recommended height and weight range for the bounce house. Further, always supervise your child when he or she is bouncing. Do not leave supervision up to other parents, and do not move too far away from the bounce house.

Beyond that, if the bounce house is outside, you must pay special attention to the weather. Since bounce houses are inflatable, strong winds can pick them up and move them. Once winds reach the point that loose paper and small branches are moving, you may want to remove your child from a bounce house. Additionally, when bounce houses are situated in direct sun on a hot day, exposed surfaces, such as a slide or climbing wall, can become very hot, especially for children with bare feet.

This list is not exhaustive, and it is important to always review and adhere to all safety rules posted by the bounce house venue.