By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

SMITH CENTER -- The pumpkin harvest already has begun at area farms and will continue until Oct. 31.

The Sasse Pumpkin Patch is back after taking last year off. It features a you-pick pumpkin patch, 5-acre maze, tricycle track and picnic areas among other things.

"It's just a fun, family outing," owner Sherrill Sasse said.

The Sasse farm is located 4 miles west of Smith Center on U.S. Highway 36 and 11âÑ2 miles south on L Road.

"We have a nice view with the corn fields right behind the house," Sasse said.

The special feature at the Sasse Pumpkin Patch will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 10 when Smith Center FFA members will host a mystery maze, which Sasse said isn't really haunted so younger children can enjoy it. Admission for the night is $5, with proceeds going toward the local FFA chapter.

Admission during regular hours of operation, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, is $3.

Cottage Lane Farm, Ellis, has opened for the year and features a maze, hay tunnel, hayrack rides and a pumpkin patch.

The farm also will be part of Ellis Fright Night on Oct. 24.

Cottage Lane is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. The farm is located west of Ellis on 110th Avenue, just south of Old U.S. Highway 40. Admission is free, but there is a charge for the optional activity pass that features the maze, tunnel and zipline.

Granny Mae's Pumpkin Patch near Dorrance has added a few new features in its 11th year of operation.

"We added the Prairie Trail, a walking trail," owner Tonya Buehler said. "We expanded and redesigned the scarecrow meadow where the hayrack (ride) travels."

Granny Mae's is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

The farm features more than 100 kinds of pumpkins and gourds and more than 100 handmade scarecrows scattered throughout the pumpkin patch.

From Exit 199 on Interstate 70, the pumpkin patch is located 3 miles south, 2 miles west and a half-mile north. There is no admission fee, but some activities are individually priced.