Ever since I joined a sorority my freshman year, every fall without fail, we have visited Rader Family Farms, located ten minutes away from IWU’s campus in Normal, IL. This fall tradition is one of my favorite events that I look forward to every year. Although every time I go there, I see families and other sororities, but I rarely see college students just there for fun with non-sorority groups. Rader Family Farms may seem to some college students as “a sorority thing”, but it really is a fun place for anyone to get into the spirit of the season.
Rader Family Farms is not only a cute place to take photos, other than the stereotypical sorority-squat, it is also an actual working farm and a great place for friends and couples. According to the owners Lynn and Linda Rader, their recreational farm is a place that “allows guests a unique opportunity to connect with and learn from rural America while having a great time in the country.”
The main area open to the public includes a general store, a cafe, a pumpkin patch, as well as a corn maze and small children’s attractions. To simply enter the grounds and take cute seasonal photos is 100 percent free, granted if you do not succumb to the many items in their store or decide to do an activity like the corn maze.
My personal favorite thing to do is to get a seasonal drink and a pumpkin donut to enjoy before taking pictures. A drink on average costs $4-8 and the donuts come in a pack of 6 for $7. These prices may seem high to some, but the quality and support of a small, family owned business makes it worth it.
I would also add, who cares if a place is known for being enjoyed by sororities? Disney movies are meant to be enjoyed by children, but that does not stop adults like myself from enjoying them. Just because an activity or a place is associated with a certain group on campus like Greek life, it does not mean that only Greek life can enjoy it. The gate-keeping of cool places with fun photo-opportunities and activities needs to end, especially within colleges. Rader Family Farms is a local, family-owned business that serves as a fun fall activity and beautiful place to make memories. Anyone and everyone in Bloomington-Normal should take advantage of our proximity to this awesome place.
I encourage people to get out there, and enjoy the weather and vibes of fall. Before we know it, it will be winter, with ice and snow. No more pumpkin patches, corn mazes, or walking around cool farms. Take the time and enjoy these small pleasures of the season, with friends, club members, family, or significant others. Go to Rader Family Farms, it’s a classic fall locale for all, not just sorority members.
