Students of LSE are looking forward to the approaching fall season. As we get closer to autumn, preparations are being made, especially by those who will be working at the beloved Roca Scary Farm as performers for the haunted attractions. 

This seasonal job is a great option for the youth in our community. Many high school students from LSE have taken advantage of this opportunity to experience a thrilling and one-of-a-kind workplace. Sophomore Norah Schmidt will be starting her first year working at Roca Scary Farm this fall. She will be dressed as and portraying the ringmaster for the Sinister Circus attraction.

“I’ll be by the big clown mouth,” Schmidt said.

One of the many benefits of this job is the ability to have close friends as coworkers. Schmidt discovered this job through a friend of hers who worked at the festival last fall, and will be attending again this season. After finding the job very enjoyable, she decided to share her experience with her peers. This was the main factor in Schmidt’s decision to apply for the job, as well as knowing three other friends who will also be working at the festival this year.

“She introduced it to me because she worked there last year and she had a lot of fun,” Schmidt said. 

During the weekdays, Roca Berry Farm is a lighthearted, family-friendly version of the festival marketed towards families and young children. Beginning on Sept. 17, the focus will be on popular fall attractions such as the corn maze, jumbo slides and the pumpkin patch. There are also a few haunted houses that have been designed to be less frightening for children.  

“The day isn’t scary, it’s for the little kids. The night is much scarier,” Schmidt said.

Sept. 23 will be the opening day for Roca Scary Farm. From then on until Halloween night, the festival will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, though the dedication to this job goes further than your usual part-time occupation. It begins at 5 p.m. with the attractions opening at sundown, and they will remain open until the last person has made it through each of the haunted houses. How this job may affect school for students isn’t much of a concern considering it will mainly be weekend shifts, although the hours may be long for a young teenager in high school.

“I think it will [affect school] a little bit. We work so late at night, and then coming home late. I get there around 5:30 – 6 p.m. and then leave around midnight,” Schmidt said. “I’ll just be working Friday and Saturday, not working Sundays.”

Roca Scary Farm– as well as the daytime festival– are loved and visited by many. Not only because of the thrilling attractions, but the job opportunities have also been an interest. There are openings for work outside of just the haunted houses such as food service, cashiers and attraction attendants. It is especially a great way for underclassmen to begin working somewhere much more timely than the common part-time fast food or retail job for a high school student. This job is not only a unique way to start off the season of caramel apples and pumpkin carving, but it is a beneficial opportunity for the students of LSE.