Trempealeau corn maze hopes to educate on Type 1 diabetes

The Schwertel family saw everyday life change last year, and now they hope to educate — and help — others.

Schwertel Family Farms, LLC is a third-generation family farm in Trempealeau operated by Ryan Schwertel, his wife Kristina and their daughters. The farm at W27348 State Road 54 35 is in the midst of its second annual corn maze.

After offering the public corn maze last year with a theme of ‘Shop local’, the Schwertels were considering 2024 themes when they began reflecting on how their lives have changed since their daughter Kinley was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in January 2023.

This year’s corn maze theme is Type 1 diabetes as the Schwertels hope to spread awareness and help others. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that prevents your pancreas from creating insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels for energy use.

“I was just kind of sitting around thinking about another impactful statement or something we could do that would make a difference in our community because we’re very, very strong believers in that,” Kristina said.

As they first navigated the daily requirements of living with Type 1 diabetes, the Schwertel family realized it is more widespread than some might think. They learned there are at least a handful of kids in the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District living with Type 1 diabetes.

“There’s a lot of kiddos out there, and what is something we can do to bring awareness to Type 1? Because before our daughter was diagnosed, I didn’t know what it was,” Kristina said. “So (we wanted to) bring awareness and also celebrate these kiddos that have something different. But they’re just like everybody else and instead of treating them differently let’s celebrate them and support them.”

This year’s theme includes a partnership with Chad Erickson Thunder Ride for Juvenile Diabetes, a local nonprofit organization that assists the growing number of children affected by diabetes in the La Crosse area. A portion of admission fees will go to the organization.

Multiple national studies from health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show increases in diagnoses of children with diabetes in recent years.

The farm is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday as well as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The eight-acre maze can take 30 minutes to an hour to complete.

Admission to the farm is free, while the corn maze costs $9 for adults and $7 for children six years old and up. All Type 1 diabetic children will have their admission fees waived this year.

Haunted versions of the maze will be held Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 with haunters coming from the G-E-T High School music and FFA programs.

Kinley, a sixth grader at G-E-T Middle School, is in youth sports including basketball, so there was an adjustment to always keeping snacks and sugar prepared for her to keep her insulin levels high. If Kinley falls asleep with her blood sugar too low, she might not wake up to get nutrients into her system, and her parents have to help with that.

“Her friends and the people around us have been very supportive, but I think people are a little nervous, so she hasn’t gotten invited to a lot of sleepovers,” Kristina said.

Schwertel said she does not blame parents or friends who are unsure how to help, saying her family wouldn’t have known prior to Kinley’s diagnosis. That is part of the reason they hope to spread awareness with the maze.

“She could go really low at night when she’s sleeping and she doesn’t wake up and we have to wake her up to get some juice or something. It’s scary, and it is life-threatening. So, between the sports and not necessarily being treated differently by friends—but yes, being looked at differently—people are just not sure.”

The color for Type 1 diabetes is blue with a ribbon, something that visitors can expect to see around the maze.

“We’d love to have people come out, take pictures and ask questions if you have any. It’s a great opportunity to maybe learn more about what Type 1 diabetes is,” Kristina said. “If you know someone with Type 1 diabetes, don’t be scared of them. Most kiddos and people will tell you about it and tell you what they know.”