One of my favorite fall memories from growing up is going to pumpkin patches and apple orchards. My family loved stuff like that. We even went to a Christmas tree farm one time and cut our own tree. That actually didn’t turn out so well. That was the year Dad bought an artificial tree after a few mishaps. But I digress.
This fall, I will see you a pumpkin patch and raise you a real, working dairy farm. This fall, why not pick up your pumpkins while simultaneously visiting a real farm, maybe enjoying a corn maze, munching down on a grilled cheese, and getting to meet real dairy cows.
This fall I’d recommend visiting Knollbrook Farm (north-central Indiana), Kelsay Farms (central Indiana), Kuehnert Dairy Farm (northeast Indiana), or Janny’s Pumpkins (northwest Indiana).
Knollbrook Farm
Goshen (Michiana)
Open until October 31
Hours: Fridays 4-8 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m. -6 p.m.
Features: robotic milking parlor tour (see cows milked!), corn maze, you-pick pumpkins, ready to go pumpkins, snacks, school tours available
Kelsay Farms
Whiteland (just south of Indianapolis)
Open until November 1
Hours: Fridays 6 – 10 p.m., Saturdays noon – 10 p.m., Sundays noon – 6 p.m.
Extended Fall Break hours: noon – 6 p.m. the weeks of October 12 & 19
Features: farm tour included in admission (see cows milked!), corn maze, kids’ activities, ready to go pumpkins, hot food, school tours available, credit/debit accepted
Kuehnert Dairy Farm
Fort Wayne (northeast Indiana)
Open until November 1
Hours: Fridays 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sundays noon-5 p.m.
Features: farm tour included in admission (see cows milked!), corn maze, kids’ activities, ready to go pumpkins, hot food, school tours available, bonfire
Janny’s Pumpkins
(located at Kleine Dairy Farm)
Cedar Lake (Lake County/northwest Indiana)
Hours: every day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Oct. 31 or supplies run out
Features: pumpkins, mums, straw bales, fall decorations
