Kolder’s pumpkin patch celebrates the season

Summer has officially come to a close, and the first signs of fall are beginning to show around town.

One of those signs are the rows of bright, orange pumpkins for sale at the home of Ron and Mary Kolder, right along Highway 57.

The Kolders first started growing their own pumpkins and gourds over 35 years ago, Ron says.

“I grew up on a farm - I’m a farm boy - and when I moved to town, I still wanted to do something, so I started growing pumpkins. I started out raising them in my garden, and I brought a couple to work with me and they sold pretty fast,” he said. “Over the years, we kept raising them and selling them. I rented some land from my sister outside of town and raised up to an acre of pumpkins one year.”

The work isn’t easy, though, he says. He and Mary spend a lot of time tilling, planting, weeding and keeping the pumpkins clean from May until it’s time to harvest in September.

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