It is that time of the year sweater weather, pumpkin spice everything, and the need for Instagram worthy autumn activities. Nelson’s Pumpkin Patch, near Emerado, North Dakota, is way more than just a backdrop for your next profile pic. Owned by the Nelson family since 1880, this farm is a maze, quite literally, of food, games, and education.

With a rich history dating back to 1880, Nelson’s Pumpkin Patch is a family-owned and operated enterprise headed by Carrie and Todd Nelson. But this is not just a place to pick the perfect pumpkin.

Upon entering, the ticket booth staff were quick to list an array of activities and concession options available at Nelson’s Pumpkin Shack. The menu spans from items like chips and water to more seasonal offerings such as hot cocoa and cappuccino. Beyond the maze and activities, Nelson’s Pumpkin Patch is filled with options to keep every visitor entertained. There is a petting zoo featuring Barnyard Buddies, alpacas, chickens, goats, and a show-stealing fluffy mini-Highland cow named Shorty. Get that camera ready because you are not leaving without a few adorable selfies.

Numerous yard games like Pumpkin Bowling and Gourd Tik-Tac-Toe are scattered around the farm. There is also a mini maze themed around racing pigs, adding another layer of excitement to the overall experience.

For the more adventurous, the Gruesome Granary Haunted House provides thrills and chills. On a lighter note, kids can hop onto the Bee Train or take a slide down the Pumpkin Plunge. I personally enjoyed launching a pumpkin from a compressed air cannon and saw a few sharpshooters launching corn into an old tractor. The launcher was surprisingly accurate, in William Tell fashion, it allowed me to shoot just above a carved pumpkin and into an old tractor’s screen, which I do have say was an awesome experience.
 

The 10-acre corn maze is one of the farm’s major attractions. Though it typically takes 40-50 minutes to complete, I managed to finish it in 30 minutes, thanks to the GPS-enabled QR code at the entrance, which was something I was grateful for as I tend to get lost easily. Surrounded by towering corn stalks, the maze offers a blend of challenge and scenic beauty. I found myself admiring the sky as I walked through the maze and coming to the exit; I could hear families coming in with excitement and kids bustling with enthusiasm as they eagerly rushed into the maze, adding to the overall experience.

On my way back I had the fortune of meeting with Carrie Nelson, the woman behind Nelson’s. She took several minutes to share with me the work involved in making the event possible as well as how it all started. Since 1996, the farm has welcomed school groups, aiming to give children a taste of farm life and reconnect them with their agricultural heritage. Nelson, originally a teacher at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, knew something was missing from the student’s curriculum and decided to take it upon herself to teach them more about farm to table to help them understand where their food came from. Afterwards it grew to fellow teachers wanting to take their students as well, and Nelson soon saw how this simple trip could one day grow into a business. 

Now almost 30 years later, Nelson Pumpkin Patch turned out to exactly be that. Despite the naysayer’s it is impossible to deny that the pumpkin patch is not a success today. And part of that is her willingness to help and provide a wonderful experience to the community in the fall season. Nelson shared her desire to give back to her community and more importantly the experiences that the patch gives to families, kids, and adults has to do with it feeling good. Despite the workload averaging 100 hours a week at the peak of the fall season, she feels the common good that is shared a reward beholden by itself   

Nelson’s Pumpkin Patch is not just kid’s stuff; it is a legit day trip for anyone looking for a break from the norm. Nelson’s original mission to educate has grown into a business that not only fosters community but is also inclusive. The only downside? You might wish you had more than one day to experience it all. 

Davíd Moreno is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at daví[email protected].