Ian Spencer Gaynor and Dominic Kuhn explored the pumpkin corn maze at Dell’Osso Family Farm on Friday.

They were among the group from Joshua Cowell Elementary School at “Special Day on The Farm” hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Stockton.

Some 2,350 students from the various special-need classes and groups from Manteca, Tracy, Modesto, Merced, and Sonora, to name a few, had a chance to be the first to test out the Witch Maze, House Maze and Ghost Maze.

“It’s like playing mind games on you,” said Gaynor, who triumphantly emerged from one of the mazes.

Kuhn, who, like Gaynor, is age 11, figured out the key of getting through the maze. “You have to follow all the clues,” he said.

Beginning today through the end of the month, the Pumpkin Maze at Dell’Osso is open daily to the public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cost for the corn maze is $12 (unlimited) for adults and $8 (unlimited) for children age 4 through 8.

Other attractions include the Haunted House, the Pumpkin Blaster, Dell’Osso Express Train, Mystery Tour, Bucking Pumpkin, Petting Zoo, and Pony Rides.

Most were available for the event formerly known as “Special Access Day” – Sunrise Kiwanis Club was the first of its sponsors – but was again offered as free sneak preview.

Elaine Thompson, who is the organizer from Kiwanis, relied on her fair share of volunteers and contributors to make possible “Special Day on The Farm.”

It took over 100 volunteers, including 50 from Key Club and 16 from Kiwanis, according to Thompson.

JR Simplot donated a check along with two canopies and the Trick or Treat goodie bags.

MBM Food Services made possible the cookies, condiments and napkins.

Cargill offered up the hotdogs while Freund Baking Company in Hayward chipped in for the buns.

Alhambra Water and St. Joseph’s Medical Center were also among the many to help out with the cause.

Yet it’s the corn maze that continues to be the main attraction.

“We let the kids take over (and lead us),” said Sara Alsabagh, who, along with Erwin Afre, is a special needs teacher at Joshua Cowell School.

Her small group of six included Gaynor and Kuhn.

“This is by far our favorite event,” Afre said.

He, too, looks forward to coming out to this Halloween kick-off event. Afre was here in previous years with the Woodward Elementary School special needs class.

The maze has a long history, starting with the Dell’Osso children who grew up playing Hide and Seek along the corn stalks that grew seven to 10 feet tall.

The Dell’Osso family opened their first-ever corn maze to the public along a 5 acre patch of land in 1997.