By Amy Batista, Special Writer
MONROE — The Etsch Farms will be going to the dogs to help raise money for dog rescues and non-profits organizations in attendance.
"We were asked several years ago by the folks at L’Oreal Paris in Cranbury to open our farm to dogs and their owners to enjoy a day at the farm together," said Caroline Etsch of Etsch Farms. "It was formed to be a fundraising day for Susan G. Komen and the many dog rescue groups that were in attendance. Last year, we ran a similar event ourselves, without L’Oreal, called ‘Dogs in the Corn.’"
The farm will be hosting the fifth annual Dogtoberfest on Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Etsch Farms located at 556 Buckelew Avenue. A rain date has been scheduled for Sept. 21.
The admission is a $15 donation from which the proceeds will benefit the Farmers Against Hunger, the New Jersey Agricultural Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
"It is the fourth annual Dogtoberfest with Etsch Farms," said Rich Werner of L’Oreal. "We moved the one after Hurricane Sandy to the L’Oreal facility as the farm experienced some significant damage from the storm."
"We have been running the bigger ‘Because Your Dog is Worth it Too’ event for the past 11 years," he said.
The original idea for the event was to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation after they lost two employees to breast cancer.
"It was a result of losing two employees to that disease over 12 years ago," he said. "The employee’s of the Cranbury facility wanted to support and chose to create a dog friendly event. Along the employee’s way we have turned the event into a major fundraiser for the rescues that attend with a game called Rescue Bingo."
The employees of L’Oreal and their friends have raised more than $1.1 million for the Susan G. Komen Foundation since it started.
"Additional money (has been raised) for the dog rescues and we are aware of over 200 dogs being adopted as a result of our events," he said, adding there will be dogs at the event available for adoption.
He noted that their association with Etsch Farms came in the first year of the event when they donated bundles of hay for a Hay Maze Race.
"Many that attended the summer event asked for a fall event," he said. "Carol and Jim Etsch agreed to make their Farm ‘dog friendly’ for a day and conduct all the same activities that they do each weekend in the fall including hay rides, corn maze, and great farm fun."
He noted the most popular events at the Dogtoberfest are the hay ride and the corn maze.
"Dogs and owners can navigate the corn maze, take a hay ride with their best friend, play Rescue Bingo to support the 30 plus dog rescues and non-profits that are in attendance," he said.
The corn maze theme this year is a train and is eight acres.
"Folks can take the "local" path, which is a smaller version of the maze, or they can "Ride the Rails" for the long trail through the corn," Ms. Etsch said.
For those who participate in the Pumpkin Bowling of winning a $1,500 basket of goodies if you get a strike knocking down 10 shampoo bottles as pins.
"There will be two dogs on leash egg on spoon races, one for small dogs and one for the larger breeds," he said, adding along with some other farm fun events, raffles, food, and games.
On Tuesday, the 2014 NJ State Cornhole Championships event was added to the schedule. Qualifying will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with finals at 12 p.m. The winner gets a cornhole trophy and a $2,000 raffle basket of products.
New this year is the Corn Train Ride with your pet as long as they are small enough.
"It is the same train that was in the Memorial Day parade in Jamesburg," she said. "The first 750 registrants will receive a sturdy reusable bag with two dog books, a special imprinted Dogtoberfest 2014 dog bowl."
There are photo ops areas available for participants to take advantage of.
"The special artwork we have on the farm of "Carolyn Cornroe" and "Elvis", make perfect photo ops," she said. "They are located around the farm, even in the pumpkin patch, where visitors will find a Pumpkin Plinko game with discounts to pumpkin items as the prizes."
Mr. Werner noted the highlight of the event is "seeing all the well mannered happy dogs just having fun for some great causes."
For Ms. Etsch, her favorite part is "seeing the faces of the dog owners as they ride on a hayride with their pets."
"Everyone is so excited because they can finally take their dogs with them," she said.
The Etsch Farms Bakery will be open for business. Apple Cider Donuts, Apple Cider Slushies, fruit and pumpkin pies by the slice and half pies are for sale as well.
