Hayride

By the late 19th century and the spread of the railroads, tourism and summer vacations in the country had become popular with urban families, many of whom had read idealized accounts of hayrides in children's books.

To capitalize on the demand, local farmers began offering "genuine hayrides" on wagons loaded with hay, since one could make more cash income selling rides to "summer people" than by selling the same wagon-load of hay (although most farmers did both).

This was considered far safer than (if not as fun as) riding perched 15-20 feet on top of a slippery pile of hay on a moving vehicle.

[1] Contemporary hayrides are often organized commercially, providing an additional source of income for farms or existing on their own as an enfranchised activity during the fall season.

These hayrides sometimes incorporate special effects and actors portraying ghosts, monsters, and other spooky creatures to attract thrill-seekers and capitalize on the Halloween season.