HILLIARD, Fla. — Conner’s A-Maize-ing Acres is preparing to open its annual pumpkin patch on Oct. 3. The farm expects roughly 20,000 visitors this fall, but owner Eddie Lee Conner said higher costs for diesel fuel, electricity, and insurance have forced the business to make some changes.
For the first time in six years, admission will increase by $3, bringing the price to $22.95.
“We’re not going to raise prices every year because diesel fuel went up,” Conner said. “So whenever we see the need.”
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
Conner has welcomed families to the farm each fall for the past 24 years. He said the season remains one of the most enjoyable parts of farming, but rising fuel prices have made it increasingly expensive to operate the attractions.
“When we get started, we use quite a bit of diesel,” Conner said. “Five dollars, six dollars and something a gallon, it’s rough.”
The farm operates five tractors for attractions, including its popular cow train. Conner said each tractor can use roughly 35 gallons of diesel depending on its size and the tractor. He says thy often need to be refueled about twice a week.
The rising price of fuel has also changed how much diesel the farm purchases at a time.
“I’ve got a 500-gallon tank, and I didn’t have it filled up,” Conner said. “But now, I order about 200 or 300 gallons because of the price.”
The higher costs have affected staffing as well. Conner said the farm has reduced some job postings in an effort to control expenses.
Visitors will be able to enjoy the farm’s attractions as usual. Conner says in the future continued increases in operating costs could eventually force the farm to make additional cuts.
One possibility would be reducing the number of tractors used for the cow train.
Those expense cuts would take place in order for the business to keep operating.
Despite the financial challenges, Conner remains hopeful that prices will eventually come down.
“We’ll make it,” he said. “It’s going to come back down.”
With opening day approaching, families looking to visit the pumpkin patch can still take advantage of a discounted admission price, with the final day to purchase discounted tickets being today.
Military and Veterans can get in for free with an ID; first responders, nurses, and teachers will have a discounted option throughout the season.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.