KILN, Miss. (WLOX) - The fall season is known for dropping temperatures and festivals bringing people together, and during this time of year, many Coast residents take a trip out to the country to check out the farm life.
“What we had in mind and what it is now is two totally different things,” said Stacey Necaise.
What Southern Promiseland Farm is now attracts thousands to Necaise’s Hancock County property every fall. Most of them come to navigate the 10-acre corn maze.
“Each year we try to make it harder than the year before,” added Stacey. “We have families that come here that will argue over how long they want to stay because they want to solve the mystery.”
The theme of the maze changes and becomes more elaborate every year. Planning for the 2026 maze is already underway.
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“We think [about] what can we do different, what can we do to make it harder, and what can we do to make it interesting? Every year I think, ‘There’s no way.’ When the artist starts sending me something, I think it’s going to shape up and it’s going to be neat.”
Stacey and her husband Maurice wanted to embrace the farm life and bought the land more than three decades ago.
“My husband always promised to quit spending money on farm stuff and he never did. So, we called it Southern Promiseland Farm.”
The Necaises moved onto the farm when their two children were just young boys.
“We wanted to raise them on a farm and let them experience farm life. Then their friends started coming and seeing it. We thought, ‘Why not open this to the public and let others enjoy our place, too?’”
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Farming is a passion for Stacey, and so is teaching. She taught in school for 30 years.
“I will always, until I die, be involved in education.”
Now she’s teaching what happens on the farm to visitors of all ages. Diamondhead resident Brandon Rutledge’s three-year-old son is part of one of the many school groups visiting the farm.
“It’s awesome, it’s a good environment, he gets to come out and socialize and see stuff that he doesn’t get to see all the time,” said Rutledge. “Being around new things is good to expand the mind and being excited about learning new stuff.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to find something to do that’s out of the ordinary and good, clean fun,” described Stacey.
Stacey is always looking for new ways to provide fun and new experiences, but with it comes a lot of work.
“We did have two kids — we probably should have had 12 to help us on the farm," Stacey said. “On the days that we’re on the worst as far as being tired, that’s what helps us to feel better is to know that we’re doing for people to enjoy our farm.”
Stacey and her husband now have a grandson growing up on the farm. Watching him and all the visitors experience the farm life makes all the hard work worth it.
“We’re blessed. That’s all I can say is we’re blessed.”
Southern Promiseland Farm will be open to the public on one final Saturday of the season on November 1 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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For more information, visit www.southernpromiseland.com.
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