Critz Farms--Getting the Story

Maybe it's because I'm from the Midwest, but I absolutely love farms. More than that, I love fall. It only seems natural that I would love fall activities on farms, I guess.

After Professor Nicholson mentioned the issues with apple orchards in class, I got to thinking about fall activities. After a little online research, I found Critz Farms. Although it's a bit of a drive, the story seemed promising (although a little soft) because the Fall Harvest Festival began last weekend.

Getting the story was slightly difficult. I called ahead before I went to ensure that one of the owners would be able to speak with me on my arrival. I was assured that they would.

I was nervous about the time constraints. I don't get out of class on Thursdays until 12:20, and then after the forty minute drive there and back, I was facing a bit of a time crunch. So that's when I learned to appreciate the audio recorder I carry with me.

On the way there, I recorded possible ANC intros and talked through possible ways of saying what information I knew on the way there. On arrival, I quickly wrote down what I thought would work.

Unfortunately, the NAT sound I was able to get was not self-explanatory, so I had to change the configuration of my story a bit, but I still thought I would be fine.

Then, after I got out of my car and went into the office, I was informed that the person that I was going to interview was not on sight, and would not be back until 2:30. I started getting nervous about the time, but I still thought I could make it work.

When 2:45 rolled around, with my 4:15 deadline fast approaching, I realized there was no way I could do the story the way I had envisioned it on the drive over. I quickly found a family who had just finished the corn maze and got as many SOTs as I could.

Aside from the torrential down pour I drove through, and the short detour I took when I got lost on the way back, the drive back went as quickly as possible. I spoke, and re-spoke my story all the way home.

Once I got back to class, I was able to quickly hammer out my story. I regret that I did not have time to have Professor Nicholson look over my story, but I would rather make deadline than have a perfect story.

Although the story took several different forms in the course of getting the story, I absolutely loved what I saw at Critz Farms. I plan on going back as a visitor rather than a journalist to pick my pumpkin and play in the corn maze.