Harvesting Connections: How One Pumpkin Patch Is Growing Community
Agriculture is all around us, often in places we least expect. For many children today, food comes wrapped in plastic or cardboard boxes from the grocery store, completely detached from the soil, sweat and seasons required to grow it.
This modern reality hit home for Kevin McCall back in 1996, when he began farming at his current location in Moriarty, N.M. What started as a working farm evolved into a mission-driven destination. Today, Kevin and his wife, Kirsten, alongside their son Caleb, run a thriving agricultural operation.
The family farms 300 acres of alfalfa, corn, pinto beans and pumpkins. With over 60 attractions, including the corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, apple cannons, animal displays, and more, the patch hosts over 100,000 visitors each fall. Even though the farm has grown into a major attraction, the family remains deeply rooted in their core purpose: bettering agriculture and educating the public.
“Although the pumpkin patch has become the largest part of our business, our mission has remained the same since the entertainment venue’s humble beginnings: to teach—especially young children—where our food comes from and how important our farmers and ranchers are for our society, and to provide a fun environment for families to create lifetime memories together,” Kirsten said.
McCall’s Pumpkin Patch makes a lasting impact not only on its own community but on those around it. A part of this impact comes from partnering with local youth, employing around 500 seasonal employees from the community every fall. Numerous members from the Moriarty FFA Chapter work on the farm, gaining real-world agricultural and leadership experience. The farm also opens its doors to students from other schools, chapters, and surrounding communities to volunteer, build work ethic, and learn side by side.
“Allowing our chapter to work alongside the McCall’s has allowed members to connect with the community and local agriculture. It has also allowed students to gain leadership skills and foundational skills essential for future careers,” Rian Nials, the Moriarty FFA advisor said.
Walking around the pumpkin patch is about more than just finding the perfect pumpkin. Integrated directly into the landscape are education facts about agriculture designed to teach kids where their food comes from, fulfilling the exact vision Kevin had years ago.
By looking beyond the obvious, the McCall family shows how agriculture impacts everyday life, preserves traditions and fosters community spirit.
