My party found the most direct route to the farmhouse, cleared it off, and left the same way they came--so they never learned there were living people stuck as scarecrows. I was disappointed, as it would have been fun to see what happened!
As the party was fighting some other ghouls the tied up humans kept struggling with their ropes, even though I continually described the weak movements, groans, and gasps coming from them instead of the obviously loud snarling and vigor of the ghouls, the party Barbarian charged and skewered one of the poor humans with his scythe, critting for a truly obscene amount of damage. The other players had already figured out what was going on, but felt like they couldn't try to stop him since he'd already announced his action. He was confused by their groans and looks of dismay as he celebrated his crit and trash talked the dead "ghoul".
When they got to the Misgivings I had the Burning Manticore trap target the Barb as revenge for that poor farmer.
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My group also rescued the Guffmins - one on their way to the farmhouse and the second afterward when they decided they should clear out the entire area to eliminate any remaining ghouls.
In an admittedly judgmental, finger wagging way, I'll observe this is a poorly designed encounter.
1. There should be a perception check offered to pc's as they approach a scarecrow to notice something odd. Normal scarecrows and a human hung on a frame (disguised by ghouls with no disguise skill!) should look noticeably different. No DC for such a check is offered in the write-up (AE version.) Further such a DC should get lower as the group approaches a scarecrow and it starts flailing to break free (including perhaps no check at all.) And lastly, pc's should be offered a perception check to notice that a diseased human disguised as a scarecrow is different from a ghoul disguised as a scarecrow - admittedly this should be a higher DC than just noticing it's not a "real" scarecrow.
2. The most likely pattern of encounters for pc's entering the Farmlands map is normal scarecrows and then ghoul scarecrows, perhaps multiple of each before a human scarecrow. This pattern encourages pc's to believe there are only two types.
3. The idea of a ghoul staying motionless while tied to a frame until such time as someone happens to get near is implausible at best. The write-up in the Bestiary says that ghouls from ghoul fever behave like a ghoul in all respects. As soon as it "arises" as a ghoul it should break free of its bonds and start seeking out food. So players/pc's are entitled to a good measure of confusion as to what is going on.
4. It's also hard to explain why Horran and Lettie have remained bound. The AP explains that it's a DC 15 strength check for the ghouls to break free - hard to see why that's not the same for the Guffmins. Ghoul fever does Dex and Con damage but not Str so the Guffmins should have been able to free themselves some time ago.