More than a pumpkin patch
Father-son duo run Edgar farm called Pumpkin Hollow
By Hannah Alden A farm just outside of Edgar with a storied history of over 100 years now brings joy to many people as they pass through each fall, collecting pumpkins and creating memories on the property.
Pumpkin Hollow, located on County Highway H, just north of the Edgar exit on Highway 29, has a long history in the area. What once was a dairy operation is now home to a self-pay farmstand, you-pick fields and thousands of flowers. The operation, currently run by Mike Gust and his son, Wes, mainly focuses on big sales during the fall, through offering customers autumn staples such as pumpkins, hay bales and ornamental corn.
The farm, which received the Century Farm designation last year, is used for many purposes, with sections owned by different family members. Gust and Wes use their acreage for produce, pumpkins and flowers. In the summer, folks can stop out to purchase vegetables like sweet corn, peppers and tomatoes. Come late August into early September, the wagons of pumpkins begin to line the driveway onto the property.
As the father-son duo were unloading a trailer load of pumpkins on a late August day, Gust spoke about the difficulties posed by this year’s drought conditions. The 2023 crop of pumpkins is only about 60 percent of what it should be, according to Gust.
The pair organizes the orange globes by similar sizes onto wagons marked with prices. Gust said most of them should have been one size bigger than they are. Most customers won’t notice the impact, seeing only how wonderful the displays look.
“People don’t see that side of it, but we do,” Gust said.
Gust and Wes both work full-time jobs in addition to the demands of running the farm. Planting for the pumpkin season begins around Memorial Day, with the two using any spare time they have, in addition to some vacation days off of work, to complete farm tasks throughout the season. Gust joked that the job is perfect for someone who doesn’t like to fish or go up north on the weekends.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that the first pumpkins were planted on the property. Gust’s father started with the idea of having pumpkins for roadside sales and it bloomed from there.
Wes, who grew up helping his dad, now plays a bigger role in the business. Gust said Wes has been “the push for expansion” in recent years, bringing a new energy to the operation.
“I started out pretty young and kind of taken it on,” Wes said. “It’s fun.”
Open seven days a week sunrise to sunset through October 31, Pumpkin Hollow also offers winter squash, gourds, cornstalks, maple syrup and more at its roadside stand. Visitors who can’t find their perfect pumpkin within the pre-picked stock are welcome to harvest their own from the nearby fields.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON - Mike (left) and Wes (right) Gust stand in front of the produce stand at Pumpkin Hollow. The duo sell pumpkins, flowers, decorations and much more.
A SCENIC ESCAPE - Pumpkin Hollow offers all sorts of picture opportunities for those looking to get their fall picture session in. A backdrop of pumpkins, sunflowers, corn and much more are available.
