While Covid destroyed many businesses, that certainly wasn’t the case for Jim Steed’s seasonal business in Columbia County.
Steed owns Steed’s Dairy, 4634 Wrightsboro Road, Grovetown, which he said offers something for everyone, including a five-acre corn maze, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, zip lines, and hayrides. He opened the business in 2010.
“We saw a lot of people who wanted to get out of the house,” he said.
Every year, the corn maze features a different logo, such as this year’s, which commemorates the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs winning the national championship. Preparing the maze is no easy task.
“I get the picture I like, and I go to the surveyor,” Steed said. “It takes about three weeks to cut the maze in.”
Inflation has also made creating it significantly more expensive. He said in previous years, it cost him $3,500, but this year, that price increased to $5,500.
Steed’s Dairy is open every weekend from September to mid-November. It’s also a popular destination for field trips and birthday parties in both the fall and spring.
“We hosted 192 birthday parties last year,” Steed said.
He wanted to create a place where families could enjoy themselves without staring at their phones.
“It’s been fun; I just enjoy seeing kids having fun,” Steed said. “You need photo opportunities for people.”
He said people love taking free pictures of their children that don’t require hiring a professional photographer. Steed has also considered adding Christmas lights. He had Santa Claus for the last two years but wasn’t available this year.
Steed grew up working on the farm, which previously belonged to his parents and grandparents. In the off-season, he still does. At Steed’s Dairy, you can find photos of the farm dating back to the 1930’s and 1940’s.
This weekend will be the last for this season, and admission will be free for all active-duty military members and veterans. It will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The cost is $12 per person for adults and children 3 and up and $9 per person for senior citizens, military members, and groups of 15 or more. For more information, visit steedsdairy.com/.
