Louisburg Cider Mill’s Shelly Schierman on corn mazes, crops and fall festivities

The abnormally warm — excuse me, I mean hot as boiling acid — summer has heightened my excitement for the return of all things fall, creepy and cold. (I’d wager that the sentiment of the majority of Kansas City Metro citizens is similar.)

Childish anticipation aside, autumnal pastimes are just generally delightful. For example, the fast approaching season makes violently butchering gourds and squash socially acceptable! Also, in a few weeks, you will be able to buy and ingest ungodly amounts of orange-hued candies and local pumpkin-spiced consumables.

One local, autumn hot spot that sells seasonal treats and hosts myriad fun activities is the Louisburg Cider Mill & Country Store (14730 K68 Highway, 913-837-5202).

We recently spoke with Shelly Schierman, one of the mill owners, and asked her how the mill’s pumpkin, corn and apple crops have faired during this dry summer, and about the new fall festivities the mill has planned for this year.