13-year-old boy run over by tractor-pulled wagon at Minnesota haunted hayride
ST. AUGUSTA, Minn. – A community is reeling after the tragic death of 13-year-old Alexander "Xander" Mick, who was fatally injured in a horrific accident during a haunted hayride event. The incident, which occurred Saturday night at the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta, Minnesota, has raised significant concerns about safety protocols in agritourism activities, especially as such events become increasingly popular across the country.
Authorities have confirmed that Xander Mick was killed when he was run over by a tractor-pulled trolley wagon during the event. As of Tuesday, investigators from the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office are still looking into the details of what exactly led to the accident. Questions remain about who was driving the tractor at the time and what Xander was doing when the tragic accident took place. As the investigation progresses, more information is expected to surface, but for now, the community is left in shock and grief.
Xander's mother, Teri Mick, took to social media to express her sorrow and devastation. Describing her son as a vibrant and active young boy, she shared that Xander was involved in a number of activities, including taekwondo, drumming, soccer, and scouting as a Boy Scout. In a heartfelt message on Facebook, she urged other parents to cherish every moment with their children, writing, "Hold your babies tight. I would do anything to hold my baby again."
While the incident is tragic, it is not entirely isolated. Just one night before Xander’s death, a 12-year-old boy named Samuel Jessen from Tennessee was also killed in a similar accident during a haunted hayride. According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Samuel accidentally fell beneath a trailer and was run over. The similarities between the two cases have sparked broader concerns about the safety of haunted hayrides and other agritourism events that involve large machinery.
Agritourism, a sector of the agriculture industry that involves activities like haunted hayrides, corn mazes, and pumpkin patches, has grown in popularity in recent years. However, safety regulations surrounding these events vary widely from state to state. Minnesota, in particular, has few state-imposed guidelines or restrictions when it comes to safety at agritourism attractions, leaving operators to largely implement their own rules.
One key risk factor in agritourism events is the use of farm equipment, such as tractors and wagons, around the general public—especially children. A study from the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety found that about 115 children die each year in agricultural-related incidents across the United States. Many of these incidents do not involve children working on farms but rather children who are merely present when accidents occur.
Casper Bendixsen, the director of the National Farm Medicine Center, spoke about the need for more comprehensive safety measures as the agritourism industry continues to grow. “There’s a lot at stake,” Bendixsen said, emphasizing the importance of protecting both the health of visitors and the sustainability of these businesses. “It’s not just the human health of the visitors and the workers, there’s a business at stake. There’s a community at stake.”
The tragic deaths of Xander Mick and Samuel Jessen underscore the inherent risks present at agritourism events and call into question whether more stringent regulations or safety guidelines are needed to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The lack of oversight and standardized safety protocols at these events could potentially leave families vulnerable to avoidable accidents.
In the wake of Xander’s death, the organizers of the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride have canceled all remaining nights of the event. This gesture, they said, was made out of respect for Xander’s family as they mourn their heartbreaking loss.
The loss of such a young life is always devastating, and as the investigation into Xander’s death continues, his family, friends, and the St. Augusta community are left grappling with grief and unanswered questions. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety, especially in environments where machinery and the public intersect. Parents and community members alike are now urging for increased awareness and precautionary measures at events designed for family enjoyment, so that no other family has to endure such an unimaginable loss.
As both Minnesota and Tennessee communities mourn these young lives, many are left wondering whether more can and should be done to prevent future accidents at similar events.
