The Goughan’s Farm Family of Caribou is honoring Aroostook County Action Program for its 50 years of “making life better” in northernmost Maine, dedicating the theme of their popular corn maze to celebrate the agency’s milestone anniversary.
The maze design, and details of the fun and educational ACAP-themed games to be enjoyed by those taking this year’s challenge, will be shared at a special ribbon cutting ceremony at the maze entrance co-hosted by the Goughan Family and Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce on Monday, August 29 at 1:00 p.m.
Preschool children attending ACAP’s nearby Early Care and Education Programs in Caribou and Limestone, along with their teachers and families, will be on hand to help cut the ribbon with officials, and be among the first to enjoy the corn maze as it officially opens for the season.
“Our family is honored to partner with ACAP in helping celebrate their 50 years of making life better. Our corn maze designs have always been based on both entertainment and education. We believe you’ll be amazed with this years design,” said Kelli Michaud, Kristi Goughan, and Katie Shannon – also known as the Farmer’s Daughters of Goughan’s Farm.
The Goughan’s Farm corn maze has become a late-summer/early-fall much anticipated attraction for the over 4,000 people each year from across Aroostook County, neighboring New Brunswick, and beyond that visit and take the challenge. In the 17 years since the family started the tradition, the announcement of the specific theme for each year’s maze has also been something folks in the area have been anxious to learn. Over that time, they have featured themes that reflected nature, agriculture, local efforts to combat food insecurity, a Presidential election, and even family patriarch and matriarch Mark and Gloria Goughan.
This year’s corn maze has the added significance of helping educate the greater community about ACAP’s programs and services, most notably its mission to provide services that support, empower and improve lives.
“We are so very grateful to the Goughan Family for their gracious generosity in not only helping recognize this milestone for our agency and recognizing the great efforts of our team members and volunteers for five decades, but more importantly for providing this platform to help educate and inform the community we serve,” said Jason Parent, ACAP Executive Director/CEO. “The thousands of people who visit the corn maze and take the challenge this fall will not only be entertained, but will better understand all that we do to help families and individuals in Aroostook County become more economically secure and stable. From our area’s youngest residents, who we ensure get a great ‘Head Start’ by providing a top-quality early childhood education experience and nutritional services, to the thousands of seniors on fixed incomes who turn to us each year for assistance keeping their homes warm each winter and supports to weatherize their homes, we are proud to touch the lives of more than 14,000 people with our programs and services each year.”
Goughan’s Farm and ACAP have been partners over several years in hosting a farmer’s market in Presque Isle during the summer and early fall months as part of a collaborative effort with the agency’s Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC as it is commonly known. ACAP administers the WIC program locally and Goughan’s has provided on-site seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables for WIC participants to purchase with benefits provided through the program, as well as for members of the general public to purchase.
The Goughan’s Farm Corn Maze collaboration is part of a year-long celebration commemorating 50 years since the then Central Aroostook Action Program and St. John Valley Action Council formally merged to form ACAP. It is one of two significant projects that pay tribute to The County’s deep agricultural roots. The other, ACAP’s 50th Anniversary Potato Plot partnership with G. B. & D. Pelletier Farms and Northeast Packaging, will be celebrated on September 9 in St. John Plantation when the community helps hand harvest the field.
The corn maze will be open to the public daily between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Mondays through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Sundays through the end of October. The cost is $9 per person, and includes a free farm made ice cream.
Speaking of ice cream, the newest flavor made on-site by the Goughan’s, also has a tie-in with this year's corn maze theme. An agency-wide contest of ACAP employees to dream up a new flavor to be scooped up at the dairy bar this season was held last month.
Goughan’s Family members received all of the suggested flavors, selected a winner and are producing the new treat that will be branded with a name that both signifies the flavor itself and service of ACAP to The County community. The ACAP team member who envisioned the
ice cream flavor will be introduced at the August 29 ribbon cutting event and will share the ingredients and treat name. The new flavor will be available for sale that day.
Community members and the media are invited to join officials for the corn maze ribbon cutting ceremony, maze design unveiling, and special ACAP 50th Anniversary commemorative ice cream flavor announcement on Monday, August 29 at 1:00 p.m. at Goughan’s Farm at 875 Fort Fairfield Road in Caribou. This year’s corn maze is located on the far western side of the property, nearest to Caribou. Directional signs will help direct attendees to the site of the ceremony and corn maze.
About Goughan’s Farm
For 40 years, Mark and Gloria Goughan and their children have been working toward the ultimate goal of creating an entertaining destination point for families to enjoy a working farm. The motive through the years of planning has been to capture the agricultural tradition of Aroostook County, while providing family fun in a clean, safe, worry free and affordable atmosphere.
About Aroostook County Action Program
Celebrating 50 years of service to the people of northern Maine in 2022, Aroostook County Action Program provides the people of Aroostook County with services and resources that help individuals and families achieve greater economic independence. As a leader, or in partnership with others, ACAP provides guidance to the community in responding to emerging human needs in the areas of community health, early care and education, energy and housing, and workforce development services. Aroostook County Action Program continues to accept new clients as well as serve existing clients through a vast array of programming. To learn more about available services available, contact ACAP at 207- 764-3721.
About Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce
Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce has been serving the business community for over 75 years. Expanding from one to 22 communities, the Chamber provides a sustainable support system to foster economic and community growth within our membership. With an arm of tourism and a 24-hour information center, the Chamber is the hub for information for visitors and for families that are relocating to be part of our vibrant central Aroostook area. The Chamber holds many long running community events and participate in other events and programs as a supporting partner. Other programs such as Business After Hours, Eggs n’ Issues, Lunch n’ Learns, Mondays with the Chamber and The Chamber Presents offer promotions, visibility and education to businesses. If an entity would like to partner with the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, contact our office and we will be happy to serve you.
