Less than two miles out of Oxford, the fall season has officially begun at the Butterfields Farm Market. From locally-grown fruits and vegetables as well as pumpkins and fall treats, the market has all of one’s fall needs available in their roadside shop.
Run by Kathy and Bryan Butterfield and their son Branden Butterfield, the market has been open since 2004.
“Fall is our busiest time,” Kathy Butterfield said. “Right now, the no. 1 thing is the apple cider slushie. We also have several types of apples and we are hoping to get 20 to 25 different kinds of apples,”
The market also has other produce choices including several types of squash, potatoes, onions, cabbage and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.
The market also sells Amish products from Walnut Creek. Found in a cooler in the market there is bacon, sausage, different cheeses, butters, noodles and salad dressings, according to Kathy Butterfield. Last year, the market began selling cutie pies, which are mini single serve pies, from Hyde’s Diner in Hamilton.
“The first week we got 10 pies and we sold out in one day. Now we’re up to 45 to 50 pies,” Kathy Butterfield said. The different cutie pie flavors available include pumpkin crumble and pumpkin. These pies can also be specially ordered in larger sizes and picked up at the market. The market also sells pumpkin and brownie cookies from Jungle Jim’s International Market.
While Butterfields Farm Market started importing goods from local businesses to sell, it also sells its own produce to Oxford establishments. “We help five or six restaurants in Oxford, such as Skippers, SDS, Moon Co-Op and Fridge and Pantry,” Branden Butterfield said. The Butterfield Farm Market provides produce such as onions, green peppers and tomatoes to the Oxford establishments as well as the fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.
Alongside the dairy products, produce, and other treats, The Butterfields market offers Amish furniture, hand-made cards, candles and other locally-made gifts. “People have come out and told us what they do and asked if we’d sell their stuff.” Kathy Butterfield said. “For example we work with a woman who takes gourds and she paints them once they’ve dried out.”
The Butterfields Farm Market is more than just a shop. The 30-acre farm is also home to a 7-acre corn maze.
“We have hidden plaques throughout the maze so that it’s like the game of clue,” Kathy Butterfield said. In time for Halloween, the Butterfields have added a festive spin on their corn maze that encourages visitors to look for clues to a whodunit mystery with suspects like a pig or a goat all throughout the maze. Tickets for the corn maze are $5 for adults, $4 for ages 7 to 12 and free for kids 6 and under.
Another fall activity is the hayride that goes around the farm, which is open to the public on weekends, according to Branden Butterfield. Each ride is $3 per person and free for those under the age of 5.
“You can get off the wagon and feed the cows an ear of corn,” Kathy Butterfield said. “Everyone likes to get their picture taken with the cows.” These hayrides can also be scheduled for private events.
As the Butterfields Farm Market has so many kid-friendly activities, they work with local elementary schools, such as Bogan Elementary and Mini University.
“Every year we have a standing week that we block for them and they bring out the kids from Mini University,” Kathy Butterfield said. “They get to go on the hayride to see the cows, and we give them a pie, a pumpkin, a coloring book and an apple.”
Located at 4000 Oxford Trenton Road, the Butterfields Farm Market is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. between the months of April and December. Additionally, check out the Butterfields Farm Market stand at Operation Pumpkin from Oct.11 to 13 in Hamilton, Ohio and get a famous apple cider slushie.
