Bear Hugs Alums’ Farm Scores a ‘Touchdown’ with Bear-Themed Corn Maze Run by the Moores—a three-generation Cornellian family—the bucolic spot has long been a popular source for Christmas trees “Bear Hugs” celebrates heartwarming stories of Cornellians on the Hill and around the world. Have an idea? Email us at cornellians@cornell.edu! By Melissa Newcomb This fall, an alumni-run family farm is paying tribute to its owners’ alma mater in an a-maze-ing way: the annual labyrinth it carves into its cornfield is shaped like Touchdown the Bear. Located about 10 miles north of the Hill in Lansing, Moore Family Farm grows Christmas trees, pumpkins, and flowers, and hosts a popular fall festival. Jason Koski / Cornell UniversityCould you find your way to the center—and back out again? Mowed into a five-acre cornfield, the Touchdown maze marks the University’s 160th birthday: its charter was signed in 1865. “Cornell is a huge part of our local community,” says owner and CALS alum Jason Moore ’01, BS ’02, MPS ’08. Cornell is a huge part of our local community. Jason Moore ’01, BS ’02, MPS ’08 He notes that there are 20 stations throughout the maze, offering facts about Big Red history and about the Moore family. “It’s engaging,” he says. “You get to learn something while you’re having fun.” providedTouchdown checks out his likeness. The farm was founded in 1971 by Jason’s parents, Richard and Kay. (Richard Moore ’67, MEng ’68, MBA ’70 is retired Hotel School professor; Jason’s paternal grandfather, George Moore ’31, PhD ’35, was also an alum.) Says Richard: “I love walking around on the weekends and seeing generations of families get to enjoy it.” I love walking around on the weekends and seeing generations of families get to enjoy it. Richard Moore ’67, MEng ’68, MBA ’70 Jason—who now runs the farm with his wife and kids—has fond childhood memories of planting, pruning, and selling Christmas trees with his mom and dad. Richard, who retired from Cornell in 2002 after 35 years of teaching hospitality information technology, and his wife had started the operation when the New York State government began offering incentives for planting trees. providedParents Richard and Kay at Jason’s Commencement. “I had no grand scheme of ever thinking I would do anything with them—but by luck it was a good growing year, and that started it all,” he recalls. “After a couple of years, my dad told me I’d planted too many per acre, so I’d have to cut down every other row, or I could shape them as Christmas trees.” Since then, the original 30-acre farm has more than doubled in size. And in 2021, Jason and wife Carrie launched a fall festival that draws some 7,000 annual visitors for the maze and a dizzying variety of other activities and attractions. In 2021, Jason launched a fall festival that draws some 7,000 annual visitors. There are apple cannons, paintball guns, baby goats, wagon rides, skee ball, pumpkin bowling, life-sized foosball, sandboxes filled with corn kernels, and more—plus snacks and libations including fresh apple cider donuts, kettle corn, lemonade, and local beer, wine, and bourbon. providedThree generations of Moores on the farm. “The festival lets families savor the beautiful fall days and make memories together,” says Jason, who also works at a local bank as a commercial lender. “Put the phones down for a minute, breathe some fresh air, and have fun outside.” Planning for the festival’s centerpiece—the maze—begins each winter or early spring. The corn is planted in June, and the paths are cut in mid-July using GPS and a six-foot rototiller on the back of a tractor. The corn is planted in June, and the paths are cut in mid-July using GPS and a six-foot rototiller on the back of a tractor. Depending on the conditions, the remaining corn is harvested in November or December. Past maze themes have included first responders, the Finger Lakes, and the Cortaca Jug (an annual football game between regional rivals Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland). Jason Koski / Cornell UniversityThe farm sells pumpkins in the fall … provided… and Christmas trees in winter. Although retired, Jason’s parents still help out—and their grandchildren are now the third generation of Moores working on the land. “Every farmer has to make decisions when they start to get older,” Richard observes. “It’s wonderful to see them continue it with enthusiasm, and make what we did even better.” Top: Richard (left) and Jason Moore on the farm. (Jason Koski / Cornell University) Published October 16, 2025 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Glorious to View After a Long, Cold Winter, Spring Has—Finally!—Sprung on the Hill In the President’s Words ‘Experience the Breadth of Cornell and Ithaca’ Storytime with Corey A CAU Trip Sparks a Look Back at Cornell’s Ties to Cuba