Pumpkin Chunker

A little compressed air, a target, and the sound of the horn will alert the Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch goers that the Great Pumpkin Chunker is ready to launch another flying pumpkin into the air! Farmer Bob is at the ready!

The next Chunker is in line and rubbing his hands anxiously to get at the control panel, adjust the aim of the target a bit more, increase pressure and the challenge has begun! Who can hit the target first? Who can hit the furthest target away? The Pumpkin Chunker has even entertained, oops, educated high school physics students who tried to calculate the trajectory of the pumpkin!

Here is the impressive control panel with all of the technical information that a Champion Chunker would need to successfully smash a pumpkin into pie on a target.

The large assortment of ammunition for the Pumpkin Chunker is already at the station. There is a highly sophisticated tool used to choose the size of pumpkin for the Chunker. It has something to do with diameter and an old feed bucket!

Another successfully launched pumpkin. Now for the most commonly asked question: Do you really use the Pumpkin Chunker to plant the Pumpkin Patch? Well, come on out to the farm and we will talk about it while we sort the seeds!

The Corn Maze Craze

Who would have thought when Fort Vannoy Farms was in the early stages of dairy farming that one day many people would be coming to enjoy the farm life on a fall weekend? Well, now Fort Vannoy Farms offers the amazing Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch weekends from mid September through the end of October. Something that the Crouse Family didn't expect has grown into a very rewarding harvest celebration for families of the Rogue Valley. The cows are still being milked for the delicious rich milk, and they continue to be fed chop from the fields of corn grown specifically to feed the herd. Now, before the corn reaches the chopping and silage stage, it is a fun place for families to bring their kids and enjoy a day out in the fresh air on the farm!

Farmer Bob is the sculptor of the magnificent mazes each year. The initial pattern for the maze starts within weeks of planting the corn seeds. Farmer Bob has a genius vision for such things. Creating a maze that the older kids love as much as the little kids and their parents has become one of his favorite jobs on the farm. Bring the family out for a day on the farm and enjoy our 2011 Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch! You will also find the Pumpkin Cannon, tractor rides, draft horse hay wagons, petting zoo of some of the farm animals, open air cooked food by our local high school FFA, a Zipline, and many memories for your family to share for many years!

Sweet Corn is Coming!

There is a lot of extra hustle and bustle happening at the farm these days! Yes, the sweet corn is on its way and will be ready for you to take home on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10! Mmmmm, the sweetest corn grown in the Rogue Valley right at your back door! See you at the farm stand everyday from 10 am to 6 pm.

Rows and Rows of Great Food

There are many, many rows of delicious, rich, tasty food growing at Fort Vannoy Farms. Here is a shot of some of the cabbage, peppers, broccoli and cauliflower. Other vegetables that are ready and ripe on the farm include carrots, onions, garlic, green beans, peas, strawberries, and tomatoes. The corn is growing silently in the background...get ready because it is almost ripe and ready to roast! Corn Days are coming soon!

Got Sunshine?

Do you need a little sunshine? We have brilliant yellows, bright orange, and plenty of sunshine wrapped into our summer squash, ready and ripe on the farm! The golden sweet corn is secretly waiting its grand appearance on August first!! Come on out to the farm stand for all of the sunshine you need.

Life on the Farm Right Now

The flowers are in full, colorful bloom, strawberries are bursting with juicy, red flavor, and picked early in the morning, the sweet corn is planted in the newest rows in the field, the cattle are grazing along the creek. What are you waiting for? Come on out to see us at the Farm Stand. It is a perfect day to be outside. See you soon!

Happy Fourth of July

Independence and farming go hand in hand. We hope you find yourselves celebrating a life of independence and freedom with family and friends in the beauty of Southern Oregon. We are farming and harvesting, so if you need to add to your picnic or BBQ with locally grown food, come on out to the farmstand for some "just picked this morning" strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, snap peas, sweet peas, garlic, lettuce, and cherries! Enjoy your celebrations today and be safe. Happy Independence Day from your local farmer!