Papa’s Pumpkin Patch celebrates 25 years
It all started with one simple request: Grow
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The family behind Papa’s Pumpkin Patch includes (left to right) Dave Pearce, Tracy and Cory Finneman, Suzie and Colleen Pearce, and Ben-Luke, along with dogs Demspey, KC and McKenzie. |
pumpkins and give them away to children during Octoberfest.
The request seemed easy enough for Capital Electric Cooperative members Dave Pearce and his family: wife, Colleen, mother, Suzie, and sister, Tracy. In 1983, they planted pumpkin seeds on five of their family’s 60 acres. The seed sprouts cracked the soil and grew into vigorous vines, all according to plan. But then, a drastic date change transformed the Octoberfest in October to Folkfest in September, taking 30 days out of the growing season.
“It was the difference between orange and green pumpkins,” Dave says. So the green pumpkins remained at the greenhouse.
Then a “happy accident” occurred. When the pumpkins ripened to a deep orange, Dave called local first-grade teachers and invited them to bring their students out to pick the produce.
Following their visits, the Pearce family received countless thank-you cards saying, “Dear Papa’s Greenhouse, thank you for the pumpkins. We love your dog, Sheba.” Or, “Dear Papa’s Greenhouse, thank you for the pumpkins. We got to pet the horse.” Or, “Dear Papa’s Greenhouse, thank you for the pumpkins. We got to see a deer.”
“The children revealed the value of their field trip to the country. It turned into a whole lot more than simply getting a pumpkin,” Dave says.
Papa’s Greenhouse evolved into Papa’s Pumpkin Patch in 1989 when the Pearce family first opened their yards to the public. Now 25 years after its “simple” start, approximately 50,000 visitors see much more than pumpkins every year.
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Papa's Pumpkin Patch welcomes visitors from Sept. 15 through Oct. 21, from 12 to 7 p.m. The patch is located 1.5 miles north of Bismarck on River Road. Watch for signs! |
This fall, teachers and daycare providers will bring nearly 4,000 children to Papa’s Pumpkin Patch to climb the bale castle, cross the rope bridge or take a ride on Poppy’s Express.
As attendance has grown over the years, so has the Patch family. It now includes Tracy’s husband, Cory Finneman, and son, Ben-Luke. In addition, more than 100 volunteers help create the magic that is Papa’s Pumpkin Patch.
Dave says the patch’s success lies in win-win partnerships, from volunteers to families like Brice and Noa Barnick, KEM Electric Cooperative members from Tappen, who supply the pumpkins, gourds and squash. And Mary and Ken Graner, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative members from Mandan, who provide the decorative corn. And ranchers, who at the end of the patch season buy the leftover straw. They grind it up, add molasses and corn syrup, and feed it to their cattle.
“The cooperative spirit is alive and well at our patch,” Dave says. “There are so many win-win partnerships. What is good for them is good for us, and we all work together to achieve more than what we could do on our own.”
Visitors also unknowingly provide partnerships by sharing ideas on how to improve the patch experience.
“We constantly listen to customers who tell us what they value about Papa’s Pumpkin Patch. One thing we’ve heard is, ‘It’s an opportunity for families to reconnect with raw nature.’ It’s not the plastic or concrete of today’s playgrounds; it’s the earth and trees … where children race and chase, climb, jump—and ultimately feel safe,” Dave says.
Keeping children safe while providing a fresh experience keeps the family busy for countless hours all year long. This year, another “happy accident” occurred when several large cottonwood trees crashed to the ground during a June thunderstorm. During cleanup, the family kept climbing on the logs and realized guests might have fun climbing on the logs, too. They hauled several of them to one area of the Patch and named the wooden steps, stoops and stumps the “Log Jam.”
Yes, the family enjoys children. Yes, they appreciate the opportunity to provide other families with a natural place to play. But what satisfaction do they have, particularly after 25 years?
“Giving back to the community,” Suzie says. “Where much is given, much is expected in return. We’ve been given a wonderful place to call home, and we want to give back to the community and the state that has given us so much.”
The cost to enter the Patch is a suggested $1 donation. Most pay the dollar, while others give much more to show their thanks and support. After the end of the season, the family writes checks to different charitable organizations in the region. Last year, they gave almost $20,000 back to more than 25 groups in the community.
“We continue to build more win-win partnerships and stumble upon ‘happy accidents,’ ” Dave says. “That’s where our joy comes from.”
For more information on Papa’s Pumpkin Patch, call (701) 222-1521 or visit www.papaspumpkins.com.