Pumpkin Fun at Hickey Farms

My Suburu was the first of many to drive through that braided twine gate yesterday.  Once one of the Hickey-Holt grandchildren opened the rope across the entrance to Hickey Farms Harvest Festival, the fun began.

I must talk baling twine before going any further. A week or so ago my friend Jean eyed my twine and asked for a supply.  Yesterday I learned about the hours Jim Hickey spent over the winter constructing a twine maze for yesterday's Harvest Festival.

He worked out a prototype section of twine fence and went from there, using his own twine and that of ranchers Jack Filipowski and Harvey Lippert.  Jim also uses his braided twine ropes to close off areas around the farm and, in yesterday's case, keep Bigfoot confined within the maze.

Yes, even Bigfoot made an appearance at the Hickey Farms Fall Harvest. Besides the obvious activity of walking the fields in search of the perfect pumpkin, visitors could do the maze and purchase delectable goodies (our mini pies and deLISHious cupcakes from Traci Albertson's kitchen were a hit during dessert time last night). 

Jim and Jackie Holt happily took visitors for rides around the farm, and I even sneaked off through the fields to take a few shots of the magnificent mountain views one can enjoy from Hickey Farms. 

This Festival has turned into a wonderful down-home event for the community.  I realized yesterday, through some observation that, for the young at heart, getting to pick out the perfect pumpkin is every bit as fun as opening Christmas presents.  

What a great reward this must be for the family of Holts and Hickeys who work so hard all year to make this happen.  

Of course, the fact that Jim Holt has an alter ego who wears a red suit with a black belt and sports a big white beard during another season probably explains his enjoyment when he sees the kids squeal and grin from ear to ear with delight.   

The Harvest Festival at Hickey Farms continues on weekends thorughout October or until all the pumpkins are gone. It's definitely worth the trip to Oden. 

Happy Sunday.