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 The Pumpkin Patch opened for the season this past Thursday
and everything is in place for visitors to come out and enjoy an
afternoon.
In addition to the pumpkins and gourds to choose from, the
retail center at the patch offers items for home décor as well
as neat things like kettle corn, popcorn on the ear to buy for
take home and pop, tee-shirts, fall and Halloween themed books
and gifts for grown-ups and kids.
On Friday afternoon, the business was open, and enjoying a few
visitors. Some were there to make their annual pumpkin
purchases, and others as one dad put it, “Just here to play with
the goats!”
The goat tower is just one of the many kid and family friendly
sites at the patch. For youngsters, watching mom, dad, or even
grandma and grandpa mount an oversized tricycle and wheel around
a little race track brings giggles and laughs. The big black
tube maze is fun for everyone, and most of the tubes are large
enough that mom and dad can go in as well.
There are also chickens to watch, and this year a bunny in a
hutch under the porch of one of the outbuildings.
Food offerings at the patch include not only the popcorn, but
also Amish made apple butter, jams and jellies, and honey
harvested from bees tended by the Sasse family.
The patch is owned by David and Gail Sasse and is located just a
ten-minute drive east on Illinois Route 10 and north a bit.
David said this had not been the ideal year for pumpkins. The
high heat coupled with excessive moisture has put somewhat of a
damper on the pumpkin production. Even so, there are still many
pumpkins to choose from at the already picked displays at the
main building, or out in the field where shoppers can go out
with a wagon and large snips, to choose and pick their own
pumpkins.
And, of course, there are kittens on the farm. Be sure to look
for them, and don’t be surprised if one little, nearly all black
Halloween kitten designates himself as your personal tour guide.
That was the case on Friday as the small kitten met folks at the
front entry of the retail center, and seemed to be leading them
throughout the building, then out to see the other sites, such
as the calf roping area, as well as the children’s playhouse,
and several other attractions. The kitten is also quite friendly
and enjoys being picked up and cuddled for a bit.
The Sasse apples are growing strong on the farm, and the two
sets of apple trees located there were full of fruit. Inside,
large bags of Sasse apples are for sale, along with apple cider
and other apple related products.
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Over the weekend it is also safe to say the barrel train will be
up and running, with short trips around the homestead offered to
youngsters. The popcorn picker wagon is also going to be
running. Take a ride on the specially designed wagon out to the
Sasse popcorn field. Once there, harvest your own popcorn to
purchase and take home for later.
Every year, a trip to Gail’s Pumpkin Patch is a wonderful experience. The staff
who work there, including David and Gail, are always happy to see returning
customers and enjoy making new friends who are first-time visitors.
For those returning year after year, there are a lot of familiarities as many
components of the experience have been around for a long time. But there are
also new things each year that catch the interest of visitors.
On Friday afternoon, one set of shoppers was a couple from LeRoy, who had never
been to Gail’s. They had heard about it, and with the long weekend starting
early for them, they decided to make the trip to Gail’s, then head on into
Lincoln for lunch at one of the many eateries.
That in itself serves as a testament to the value of Gail’s Pumpkin Patch to the
Logan County community. Folks do come from out of town, and while they are
there, they think of other things to do in Logan County. It might be something
as simple as where to go for lunch or dinner, or the question might be what
other sites can we see while we are here? Either way, we all benefit.
If you haven’t gone to Gail’s in the past, this weekend might be a good time to
go check it out. As Pete and Ruth Fredericks of Lincoln will testify, it is a
great place to visit and be together as a family. On Friday the couple was at
the Patch with their grand-daughter enjoying watching her play and run in the
fresh air and sunshine.
It’s going to be a beautiful Labor Day weekend! Why not put a visit to Gail’s on
your calendar? The patch is open at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and noon Sunday through
Friday.
[Nila Smith] |
