By Alexandra Booth
Step aside Old MacDonald; Old McMicky’s Farm is one worth talking about. Field trips, birthday parties and weddings are only a few of the services offered. Recently, it announced the start of a new annual giveaway for wounded members or veterans of the military.
The Barn at Crescent Lake at Old McMicky’s Farm (OMF) recently announced its Mission I Do $25K Dream Wedding Giveaway: A Salute to Our Military. OMF will provide one wounded/injured active duty or military veteran, who is either stationed or lives in the Southeast U.S. or the District of Columbia a chance to win an all-inclusive wedding package.
The wedding will be scheduled for Sunday, November 16 and will host up to 100 family and friends of the bride and groom. All of the expenses and services will be provided by local businesses. This will include ceremony and reception facility, professional wedding planner, caterer, décor, entertainment, photographer, invitations, wedding cake, rings, florist, wedding gown and tuxedo, hair and make-up for the bridal party, event insurance and overnight accommodations before the wedding for the winning couple.
“Each time we start a service at OMF we want to start off by giving back,” Old McMicky’s Farm Owner Ralph Zuckerman said. “We are going to start offering the people the chance to have a private gathering or a wedding at the Farm, so this seemed like a great way to start of those services.”
Scott Silvest, manager of OMF, was in the Marines for eight years, so this program is near and dear to the hearts of the staff. Applications will be accepted through Friday, August 15 and the winners will be announced Saturday, August 30. Applicants must complete the forms in full electronically on Old McMicky’s Website. All branches and ranks are encouraged to apply.
Zuckerman and his staff is “trying to get the word out so that couples in the area that deserve a great wedding [can] apply.” It is asking people to share about Mission I Do so that more potential applicants can hear about the program.
OMF also offers additional services. Field trips and guided farm tours allow people to come face-to-face with 
chickens, pigs, donkeys and ponies. A hayride, barn maze, and pony rides are also included. Groups can even milk a cow.
There are many different types of events that OMF caters to and hosts. From family reunions and children’s birthday parties, to charity events and senior programs, these are just the tip of the iceberg. It is looking to add more services, like veteran family picnics and a story-telling tree.
Another option is the Facility Rental Only package, which is great for smaller affairs. The Pine Room and Lakeside Terrace are private locations that offer an indoor and outdoor setting. Tables and chairs are provided in the vintage barn that overlooks Crescent Lake. “Optional fun” services, like a photo booth, are available upon request.
Along with Mission I Do, OMF also partakes in another community outreach called 1,000 Kids.
“[We] wanted to help kids going through challenges that no kid or parent should have to go through come out and have a great, fun day on the Farm – on us,” Zuckerman said.
Different organizations, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Florida Autism Center of Excellence and Children’s Cancer Center, bring kids to interact with the animals and learn about farm life as a gift from OMF. In its first year, the farm had 899 kids attend underneath the program.
After nearly six years of being closed, OMF was reopened in 2013 “to re-create this great local tradition for the community, for children and families and people having good old-fashioned times together,” said Zuckerman. He praises his staff at the farm for helping make Old McMicky’s successful.
“It’s a team effort; we have an amazing staff (some from twenty years ago) that make OMF a great place,” said Zuckerman.
Old McMicky’s Farm is located at 9612 Crescent Dr. in Odessa. Questions regarding the qualifications for Mission I Do can be e-mailed to MissionIDo Wedding@gmail.com. For more information on the other programs available, visit www.oldmcmickys.com or call 920-1948.
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