Planning your pumpkin-themed harvest party

It's the end of September, so all of us at Historic Wagner Farm know you're already planning a harvest party for all of your friends. If you aren't planning a harvest party... well, maybe we can persuade you to start. Today on the pumpkin docket: games and activities for your next party.

Pumpkin Bowling
Let's get the obvious idea out of the way first. What can you do with a large, round, heavy pumpkin? Go bowling!

Photo courtesy of AWA Meetings / A Wonderous Affair.

Making a pumpkin bowling ball is pretty easy: just find a mostly round pumpkin, carefully cut the stem as close to the pumpkin as possible, and cut out three finger holes. You could go the extra mile and fish out the guts through your finger holes, but let's be honest: Halloween is about all things scary and gross. Why not have your party guests stick their fingers into gooey slime for this game? If you don't have bowling pins at home, you can easily improvise by decorating empty plastic bottles and filling them with a little water.

Pumpkin Hunt

This little guy just wants to
come to your party. Photo
courtesy of Evergreen Farms.

When we think pumpkins, a lot of us instantly conjure up images of large round fruits ready for carving. But what about all those little decorative pumpkins? How can we bring these into our games and fun? Why, have a pumpkin hunt, of course.

Little pumpkins are the perfect size for hiding around the yard or house, and kids will be just as excited to find them as they are to find eggs. While you probably shouldn't carve each pumpkin and stuff it with candy, there are a number of ways to give the classic hunt game a twist. Paint numbers or colors on each pumpkin - you can reward kids with the corresponding prize. Better yet, create a treasure chest of prizes and have kids find a set of numbers or colors to open the chest.

Pumpkin Pinata

Acceptable but less cool version of a pumpkin 
pinata. Photo courtesy of Mexipinata.

Every good party has a pinata, and harvest parties should be no exception. Now, you could take yourself down to the nearest party supply store and get a paper mache pumpkin pinata, but what fun is that? To make your own pumpkin pinata, simply cut out the top, remove the innards, fill the pumpkin with candy, and use some strong rope to hoist that thing up. It's probably best to play this game outside. To create an ultimate mess, set the candy aside to serve after your uncarved pumpkin has been broken.

Pumpkin Slip 'N Slide

Photo courtesy of sighroll.

If you thought pinatas were messy, do we have an idea for you. Every year, millions of valuable pumpkin guts are lost to compost piles and trash cans everywhere. This year, rather than throw those guts out, get out a tarp and spread them all over for your very own pumpkin slip 'n slide. If you want to join in the fun but don't want to get too messy, grab a trash bag and cut out holes for your head and arms before diving in.

While these pumpkin games and activities can be enjoyed by party guests of all ages, you can always add an adult spin to your party activities with some pumpkin cider. 

Tune in each Thursday for creative pumpkin ideas, and stop by the farm to pick up your own pumpkin and try it at home. Have a creative idea? Tweet us your suggestions. Autumn Sale hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Welcoming a New Calf on the Farm

Hello, friends and farmers! We have a new addition to the Historic Wagner Farm family: a new calf named Cayla. Cayla was born on the farm just a few weeks ago at a whopping 90 pounds.

Just like any new addition to a family, baby calves need a lot of attention and care-taking to ensure they're healthy and safe. It takes about three months for a calf's immune system to fully develop, so dairy farmers make sure to keep calves in very clean environments and feed them the right amount of milk each day so they will grow strong and healthy.

Farmer Andres feeding baby Cayla on the Farm

When a baby calf is first born, the mother produces a special kind of milk called colostrum. Colostrum is packed with antibodies and protein and helps spur the calf's immune system and strength. Dairy farmers have to make sure that the baby calf gets a full gallon of colostrum within the first few hours of life. As the calf continues to grow, the farmer continues to monitor how much milk their calves drink. Without careful watch, dairy calves will often drink so much milk they will make themselves sick.

Here on the farm, Cayla is staying in a straw-filled pen and enjoying the love and attention she is getting from staff and visitors. Stop by and say hello!

What to do with all those pumpkins?

Well friends, it's that time of year again. Autumn Sales have begun here at the farm! That means truckloads of all your favorite festive items - pumpkins, gourds, mums, cornstalks, straw and more. This year we're wondering, what can you do with all of these decorative items besides... well, decorate? The star of our exploration: the pumpkin.

Tune in each Thursday for creative pumpkin ideas, and stop by the farm to pick up your own pumpkin and try it at home. Have your own creative idea? Tweet us your suggestions. Autumn Sale hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.