U Lazy U Farms: A place U definitely need to visit

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BY HEATHER CLARKE

Known informally among the locals as the Ellensburg Farm of Family Fun, U Lazy U Farms is a top destination for families in Central Washington during the harvest months. Whether you are picking out the perfect pumpkin or picking fresh sunflowers – you can rest assured you picked the right place to have a good time.

The farm has been operated by four generations of the family, most recently by Craig Saville and his wife Annette. The couple loves the farm and each other – so much so that they were secretly married on the farm last year.

“We couldn't really think of anywhere else we would rather get married so we decided to stay here,” shared Annette. “It was just the two of us, two witnesses, the preacher, the photographer and our two dogs and horses.”

They announced their surprise union to their families in a rather corny way by inviting them all to a kick-off party for their custom designed 10-acre corn maze. When the maze design was unveiled, the family saw the corn maze was in the design of a bride and groom holding hands while riding on horsebacks, with the words “finally hitched” along the top.
The design for the maze is always an anticipated part of the fall Harvest season. This year’s design, unveiled September 26, is dedicated to the Washington heritage barn registry. It has a cut out of their barn (part of the Washington heritage registry), their farm brand and a sponsorship from the tractor dealership in Yakima.

In addition to the corn maze, families can enjoy pumpkin launchers (essentially giant slingshots), u-pick pumpkin patches where you can pick the pumpkins right where they grew, corn troughs (like big sand boxes, but with corn kernels) and a hay mountain.

With ten different varieties of pumpkins in the 8-acre u-pick field, you’ll be sure to fine just the right one. You not only get to pick your own pumpkin, but you can also get it branded! The U Lazy U brand (last U turned on its side) was actually Craig’s grandpa’s brand he registered when he moved to Washington in the 1940s, and the inspiration for the name of the farm. Over the years the brand has been mostly used on cattle, but most recently you can spot the brand on pumpkins scattered across the farm. You can choose to brand your pumpkin with the U Lazy U brand or make up one of your own!

If you’re feeling adventurous you can try your hand at the pig maze where adults and children can herd pigs through a straw bale maze. The maze is low enough that parents can turn their kids loose and watch them as they try to herd 12-20 baby pigs through the maze. It’s harder than you’d think and often just turns into the kids playing and petting the pigs.

You can also pick sunflowers and corn of several varieties right from the fields. The petting area boasts a variety of farm animals depending on the weekend. Year-round you can purchase Timothy Horse hay from the farm – a quality of hay that they are proud to feed to their own horses.
The farm also offers weddings and other special event services. Annette has an award-winning background in flower arrangements and is a seasoned event planner, so you’ll be well taken care of.

When asked what she loves most about the farm Annette was quick to answer, “I love keeping the tradition of the farm alive. Everyone has farming somewhere in their heritage – so it’s rewarding to share this with others.” She enjoys sharing the farm life with people who don’t get to experience it every day, and she loves sharing this experience alongside her husband. “I love working with my husband every day. We make a good team and we work well together,” she adds.

When Craig isn’t busy farming, he has a custom hay moving business, We Squeeze. He can load or unload a semi truck or put blocks of hay in a barn much faster that it can be done by hand.

The farm gets between 4,000-5,000 visitors a year. Many of those are through field trips and or groups. They are open year round. But the busiest time is from August when you can enjoy u-pick corn and flowers, through October with the u-pick pumpkin patch.

Visit www.ulazyufarms.com for more in-formation or better yet, visit the farm!