For the past three years now, David Reetz, owner of Mexico Music, and his ukulele students, have taken the show on the road. Well… down the road. 

Off Audrain Rd. 820 just minutes from the square, where the road turns to gravel and buildings become empty fields, is Hickory Ridge Orchard.   

Established in 2017 by Brandt and Kelsey Schisler, Hickory Ridge Orchard strives to be the local go-to place for apples with four acres of orchard and 23 varieties.

“We’ve gone from 400 old trees to 3000 new trees and we have another 1500 that we’re planting next spring,” says owner Brandt Schisler.

The farm hosts “u-pick” apple picking from late July to early November most years. This year however, the apples came in three weeks early causing the orchards to be picked clean by mid-September. But even with the orchards closing early, the farm is still packed with visitors. 

More than just an orchard, Hickory Ridge is home to animals such as goats, pigs and chickens, and prides itself in other produce. Mums line the walkways, and pumpkins, gourds and other squash are piled high in the center of the action. 

“We’ve got u-pick pumpkins, u-pick sunflowers, hayrides, a corn maze, corn cannon, jump-pillow, petting zoo, and a nature trail,” says Schisler. 

Staff on the farm press about 250 gallons of apple cider a week to sell on its own and create tasty confections such as apple cider donuts and pies. Last year, Schisler saw about 50,000 people come through.

“Really, it’s just trying to create a big fall festivity that people can enjoy in the area,” says Schisler. But what is a festival without a little entertainment?

That is where David Reetz and Mexico Music come in.

Three years ago Schisler came to Reetz wanting to get a bluegrass festival at Hickory Ridge. 

“Back in those days I didn't have any bluegrass friends like I do now and I said, ‘Well Brandt I can't do that but I can do a ukulele festival,” says Reetz.

Reetz had been wanting to do a Ukulele festival for a long time and Schisler agreed to try it. 

Since then, Mexico Music has been able to add a little more to the line up each year, continuing to grow with the farm’s festival. This year marks the first year bluegrass finally came to Hickory Ridge.

“We actually did a bluegrass concert out here two weeks ago!” says Reetz. 

Even though they finally got bluegrass to Hickory Ridge, the ukulele festival was here to stay. 

At noon, Columbia Ukulele Group marked the start of the festival followed by Audrain Bluegrass at 1 p.m. and Mexico Kids Ukulele Group at 2 p.m. The music continued all afternoon with the Ukulele Festival Band at 2:30 p.m. and Brass Brothers Jazz band at 3:30.

“We’re just trying to grow the festival interest, make a lot of noise and hopefully it will sound like music,” says Reetz

All the while, there was an open mic at the new stage by the pond where musicians of all skill levels were invited to perform. 

After the concerts, Mexico Music offered workshops to anyone interested starting with a drum circle at 5 p.m. and a ukulele workshop right after at 5:30 p.m.

“I think we’ve had a lot of success in bringing people out and together and have somewhere where they can enjoy on the farm,” says Schisler

For more photos, see The Mexico Ledger’s online photo galleries.