Our farm enterprise began in 1992 when we purchased 96 acres on the Historic National Rd. - Rt. 40 in Licking County with an 1890 farmhouse on it.  Ralph grew up on a farm in Illinois but Charla grew up in Ohio within city limits.  Ralph raised sheep as a boy and longed to do that again.  In the beginning, Ralph did raise sheep.  We finally got out of the sheep raising business but Charla has some humorous tales about herding sheep on Rt. 40.  In 1994, Ralph grew Indian Corn and attempted to market it.  He found people wanted cornstalks instead.  So, he started to bundle the cornstalks with our daughter, Kristin.  They delivered cornstalks to various stores to sell for fall decorating.  Of course, this was done in between her attending college and Ralph and Charla working day jobs.  Ralph says we got into the pumpkin business because Charla wanted some pumpkins for decorating.  And so, 50 pumpkins for decorating became acres of pumpkins!

We were totally on the honor system, selling pumpkins and cornstalks in the front yard while we were at work.  And even today, you can still buy on the honor system during the week if we aren't home.  Just go to Building One, look for the Pumpkin Face & Feed the Pumpkin!  (Put the money in the pumpkin's mouth.)  During the winter months, we sell Straw Bales and Squirrel Corn and many of our customers use the honor system even when we are home!  In 1997, Charla quit her full time job to devote time to the farm enterprise.