Gail’s Pumpkin Patch enjoys
largest turn out ever for Fall Farm Day
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[September 19, 2018]
This past Sunday was Fall Farm Day at Gail’s Pumpkin Patch in rural
Beason. It was a great day to get out and enjoy the offerings of the
patch. While the temperatures were high, the sun was shining
brightly with bright white puffy clouds in the sky and a gentle
breeze that made the higher temperatures feel not so oppressive.
The day began at noon, and from the first minute to the last the
patch was extremely busy. Owner’s David and Gail Sasse said that
they were confident this was the largest turn out in the history of
the special fall event. Gail noted that never had she seen people
parking along the road at the patch. The large parking area on the
south side of the machine shed converted to retail store was full
almost constantly and the cars kept coming!
And, all around the play area it was bustling. Wagons were being
filled with retail items, pumpkins, mums and more.
Inside the barn popcorn and cider were popular along with the
Caramel Apple Sundae.
Outside the new roller slide was popular with kids and it was fun to
watch them go bump-bump-bumping from the top to the bottom. Some
enjoyed riding down the slide in the traditional manner, and a few
got a big kick out of lying on their stomachs and going down head
first!
Another hugely popular attraction this year was the horse drawn
wagon rides circling the pumpkin field. Two draft horses, both sweet
as could be, pulled a large wagon filled with riders for a nice long
ride. Riders enjoyed the experience of the ride, and also got to see
the massive number of pumpkins ready to be picked out in the patch.
The rides were offered by Wild Winds Carriage Company with owner
Jason Erickson driving the wagon. Keri Erickson and other helpers
stayed on the ground collecting tickets, visiting with those who
waited in line for the next ride, and taking pictures of all the
happy riders for their own use down the road.
In the wagon, riders enjoyed a fun and a little bit bumpy road. On
one particular ride, it was fun to see two little girls who got on
the wagon as strangers, but by the time the ride was over they had
declared themselves as “best friends.” They made plans to go get
their faces painted as soon as they got off the wagon, and spent the
last few feet of the ride holding hands like best friends do.
The popcorn wagon was also seen hauling full loads of visitors to
the popcorn fields. The ride itself was free to all. Once in the
field, riders had the choice of just checking out the field, taking
selfies in the corn field, or actually picking off ears of popcorn
that they would purchase when they got back to the shop.
In the shed turned retail area, a special section was set up for
kids. The pumpkin painting was a very popular activity as children
filled the seats at the tables and applied their artistic talents to
mini pumpkins. There was also face painting and a make-and-take
craft project.
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In the center of that area, tables were set up where guests who took
advantage of the food offerings by Nuthatch Hill BBQ could sit and
enjoy their meal. There was also plenty of seating outside for
eating lunch, enjoying cider, or just taking a rest while watching
the kiddos enjoy the many outdoor activities.
Also this year, the patch offered live entertainment. Jeff Cordes
and his guitar entertained guests on the north side of the building.
Again there was plenty of seating for folks to just sit, relax, and
enjoy the show.
Another popular feature at the farm is the opportunity to measure
yourself. This is an annual event for some families, as kids line up
around the giant yard stick on the front porch of the shop so moms
and dads can snap pictures. Later, when they would go home, kids and
parents could compare the new picture to the one taken last year,
and see just how much the kids have grown and changed over the last
year.
Of course a visit to Gail’s would not be complete without enjoying
the animals. The patch offers goats for the children to enjoy, a pet
rabbit, and of course the kittens. Kids rushed to grab up the little
fur balls, and the kittens seemed very willing to be held and loved
by every child in the barn.
Fall Farm Day at Gail’s was certainly a raging success this year,
and while the hours of being constantly busy may have been tiring,
you could not have found two happier people anywhere on the farm,
than Gail and Dave.
The pumpkin patch will be open through the end of October. There are
tons of pumpkins and gourds available for purchase along with mums,
honey, cider, apples grown on the farm, and a huge selection of
indoor and outdoor fall decorations, as well as other neat pumpkin
related items such as sippy cups, coloring books, and of course,
Halloween themed clothing and costumes.
Every year the Sasses work to offer new things and make the patch a
fun family place to visit throughout the fall season. If you’ve
never been to Gail’s, this should be the year, and if you have been,
don’t assume that once is enough, because there is always something
new for you to see and do!
[Nila Smith] |