The fall season brings a plethora of fun activities for the students at Michigan State University, but one of my personal favorites is going on a hayride at Andy T’s Farm Market. Although it’s one of my fall highlights, it’s safe to say that I was completely unprepared for my first hayride experience at MSU. I’m not exactly sure what I had expected, but I didn’t anticipate being dropped off in a muddy cornfield with a bunch of people I barely knew. Although I still had a blast, I definitely wish I knew what I was getting myself into. Here are a few questions I should have asked myself before I went on my first hayride:
How do I Join a Hayride Group?
Hayrides are typically orchestrated by a club, fraternity, sorority, or other campus group. For example, I went on hayrides with the MSU BAJA SAE club and the MSU Outdoors club. Please note that most groups require you to be a member (or a member’s plus-one) if you want to tag along. When it comes down to which group you want to be a part of, it’s important to remember that you’ll be spending a lot of time with these people in a secluded cornfield. In other words, make sure you’re going with people you like.
What Happens at a Hayride?
Hayrides are a fun social event that promotes team bonding, which is great if you’re looking for an opportunity to be closer to your group members. You’re almost immediately ushered from your bus onto a hayride wagon with your group when you arrive. It’s a short drive alongside a gigantic cornfield, and you’ll eventually come across a small clearing with bare-bone amenities. You’ll be provided with a fire pit (which will be lit for you), a small, covered area, and an outhouse. That’s it! You’ll have to figure out how to entertain yourself for the next three hours or so. Some people choose to run into the cornfield and find other groups to mingle with, but most people are happy to stick around and chat by the fire with their drinks or dance (if someone decides to bring a speaker). As the night goes on, people get more comfortable, and the conversations get a whole lot more interesting. I always come back with a ton of wild memories and stories whenever I go on a hayride, which is why I highly recommend the experience.
How Should I Prepare?
I know you might think that this is the perfect opportunity to show off your cute new outfit, but I strongly advise that you dress for comfort. Hayrides do not get canceled if it starts raining and it gets very cold when the sun goes down, especially this far into the fall season. Make sure you bring a hat or a hooded jacket in case it starts to rain, and wear a pair of boots. Please don’t be like me; I wore brand-new white Vans to my first hayride. Not even 20 minutes in, my white shoes were stained brown from all the mud and my feet were freezing. Trust me, you’ll have a lot more fun at a hayride if you aren’t shivering and covered in mud.
Jugs: What’s the Deal?
In short, jugs are just a fun way to carry around your drink. Hayride-goers typically buy and paint a plastic 2.2-liter jug to bring with them on the hayride. They aren’t required or anything, but they are a fun conversation starter (and a cute drink carrier!). You can typically buy a jug at any grocery store for a couple of dollars, but jugs and paint supplies are available at the Student Bookstore on Grand River if you’re in a pinch. If you do decide to paint your jug, make sure you use acrylic paint, because it sticks to the plastic best and dries quickly.
I have never returned from a hayride without a good story. However, it’s a lot more fun when you aren’t focused on how cold you are (and when you know you’re supposed to be left alone in a cornfield). The experience becomes 10 times better when you take the time to properly prepare, so bundle up, gather your friends, and make some memories!