In cooperation with the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, operators of the Fender’s Farm Maze held a press conference Monday to announce plans and unveil the design for the Buccaneer Maze at Fender’s Farm.
Becoming an autumn tradition throughout the past seven years, the maze – which is located off Highway 107 in Jonesborough – will honor ETSU athletics this season as the program’s official “Bucky” logo will serve as the design for the maze. Visitors will answer Buccaneer athletic trivia to make their way through the maze, and special promotions for ETSU students, faculty, staff, and the general public are planned throughout the months of September and October.
“I’m a 1974 graduate of ETSU and when I retired from teaching after 31 years, we started this maze,” said Carroll Fender, the owner/operator of the maze. “As an institution and as an athletic program, ETSU has done so much to educate people in this area and around the country. I wanted to do this as a tribute to East Tennessee State University.”
With a valid ETSU I.D., students, faculty and staff will receive a $1 discount on maze tickets throughout its weeks of operation from Aug. 31-Nov. 3, but the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 6 will be specially designated “ETSU Pride” week at the maze and ETSU students, faculty and staff will receive a special $5 ticket. This is a significant discount off the regular admission price of $8.
“We’re pleased to partner with Fender’s Farm and we’re honored that they’ve chosen to use our Bucky logo as the maze this year,” said ETSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dave Mullins.
“We hope this will serve to promote both Fender’s Farm and our program.”
Along with the two mazes, Fender said the farm will once again feature special attractions such as the Pet Farm, Hay Tunnel, Hay Ride, Corn Field County Express, Fender-ella, Hay Bounce, and a Pumpkin Patch.
Hours of the operation are 4 to 9 p.m. (Monday-Thursday), 4 to 10 p.m. (Friday), 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Saturday), and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Sunday).
For more information on the maze or to plan special corporate or school outings, contact Ronnie Hale at (423) 202-2502 or Fender at (423) 426-3504.

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