From NBC40.net — Farmers looking to diversify their business and bring in more money during this slow time of year have turned to agricultural tourism attractions like hay rides, pick your own pumpkin patches and corn mazes. Jennifer Husko finds out families are willing to shell out a few dollars for some reasonably priced fall family fun.

Agri-tourism is helping pump millions of dollars into New Jersey’s economy while offering family oriented, educational activities to learn about the state’s rich farming history at an affordable price, which helps local farms out tremendously.

“It’s very important now because it helps bring in extra money in and besides you get people to see what really goes on, on a farm,” said Al Butterhof, owner of Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm in Egg Harbor City.

Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm knew the importance of providing wholesome family fun with a low price tag. “We tried to hold it down as much as we can so we could get people out here…it costs nine dollars plus tax to come here.”

And people think it’s a steal for this fall fun. “It’s a great value, yes, usually if you bring your kids someplace it’s expensive…the kids just love to come out here and play, you can pretty much do that for free, pack a lunch come out and play and take pictures…it’s a great day,” said Judy Roesch.

To draw visitors to the farm, they create a fun and educational corn maze. Preparations start the moment the corn is planted in June and you can come back year after year because it’s never the same.

“It’s pretty fun in there but…there’s a lot of dead ends,” said 9-year-old Austin.

The maze isn’t created just to get you lost, visitors can learn all about agriculture in New Jersey with fun facts posted along the way. It takes a lot of work to create a 3-acre maze like this.

“As soon as we plant it we do a grid system as soon as corn gets ankle high we go through and paint it, then we go through with weed whackers and cut all corn out,” said Butterhof.

It’s reasonably priced attractions like this that keep the garden in the Garden State.

There’s more fall fun to be had when it comes to pumpkins.

The first annual New Jersey “Punkin Chunkin” Championship will be held October 11th and 12th at Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm.