Meet the Farmers

Dale Maris

Dale Maris is a lifelong resident of Buckley, Washington and a 1980 graduate of White River High School. After working at local dairy farms during his high school days, he purchased the land and home (1983) where Maris Farms sits today. That purchase was with the sole purpose of growing his dairy business, which he did until 1998. Along the way – about 1995 – Maris started growing pumpkins on a 2.5-acre plot at the family property where he and four siblings grew up. Dale spent a brief time delivering dairy supplies to local and eastern Washington dairies after shutting down his dairy business. He became a firefighter for East Pierce Fire & Rescue in 2007. Dale is the “visionary” behind Maris Farms and he can be seen on his tractor from May through October – disking, weeding, hoeing, planting, spraying, scooping, spreaking and tanning.

Joanne (Maris) Templeman

Joanne Templeman is Dale’s sister and is also a graduate of White River High School (1985) as well as a 1989 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned a degree in Biology. She worked as a private contractor at Fort Lewis until having her second child in 1995, when she started working from home while raising both boys, Drew and Bryce. With the boys now in high school, Joanne is working at Lockheed Martin as an environmental analyst for the FAA. Joanne handles personnel, accounting and general business operations at Maris Farms. She can also be seen driving a tractor throughout the summer and fall – either mowing the parking lots, weeding and/or disking the pumpkin fields or scooping and spreading bark in the corn maze trails.

Kay Maris

Kay Maris is mom to Dale and Joanne as well as three other children – Jerry, Doug and Andy. She is a retired school teacher/librarian from the White River School District, where she coached high school girls golf and cross country as well middle school girls soccer, basketball and track. Kay is a 1959 Washington State University graduate (Education degree) and grew up in Port Orchard, where she attended South Kitsap High School. Kay handles the field trips, corn maze (day and night) operations and signage at Maris Farms. You’ll also often see her driving tractor – weeding the pumpin fields or scooping and spreading bark as well as tending to her animal barn.

Steve Templeman

Steve Templeman is married to Joanne. He is a 1985 graduate of Lake Stevens High School and a 1989 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, where he earned a degree in Communications/Journalism. Steve worked at the Enumclaw Courier Herald for five years after college as well as part time at the Tacoma News Tribune. He now works in marketing and promotions for The G Group in Kent. Steve takes care of marketing/promotions and third-party partnerships at Maris Farms, as well as some personnel and general operational/logistical tasks. You’ll also often see him training his prized racing pigs for the Triple Pig Crown racing series as well as watching Dale, Joanne and Kay drive tractor.

All four do some aspect of the farming, whether it be field prep, planting and/or weeding, but Dale is involved in ALL aspects of the farming process.

Dale got Kay and Joanne to join in on the small pumpkin patch venture he started back in 1995. That little 2.5-acre pumpkin patch attracted locals during the month of October who wanted the “fall farm feel” associated with finding that perfect pumpkin out of a patch and taking a hayride out to, around and back from the patch. Steve came on board in the late 90s and helped with the tractor driving duties.

Together, the foursome spent long weekend days in the month of October watching the small venture grow…and grow…and grow…until it outgrew that location and a decision had to be made: do we find another location and grow bigger or do we call it a day?

Dale decided to put in a tiny 1-acre “rat” corn maze at that original location to see if people would go through it. It was unpredictably popular and caused him to think bigger. He proposed forming a partnership between the four and moving the operation to his 40-acre property, where he had given up the dairy business and had plenty of room.

With Kay’s experience, knowledge and connections in the White River School district, she could help run field trips; Steve brought with him an ability to market and promote the farm through his communication skills; and Joanne was strong in the areas of general business operations as well as personnel; Dale was the farming and equipment expert as well as the “big picture” thinker.

Today, the farm has grown into a full-blown agritainment destination, where many thousands of families, teens and twenty-somethings visit each fall for their pumpkins, a trip through the 8-acre corn maze or to brave the now infamous haunted woods. Visitors also enjoy Monster Truck Rides, Pony Rides, a Hay Ride, a Cow Train Ride for kids, huge Tube Slides, a Pedal Cart Racing Track, Weekend Entertainment, plenty of food and hitting targets with Corn Shooters and a Pumpkin Blaster.