FALL FUN at

Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm

straight for the 40-acre u-pick pumpkin patch with over 60 varieties of pumpkins to choose from. Choosy pumpkin pickers will find a huge selection of short, fat, tall, skinny, fun, gnarly, and ghostly white pumpkins. Once the perfect pumpkin is safely stored for the ride home, the 12-acre corn maze and two smaller kids’ mazes draw people back to the farm. Up for a bigger challenge? The Night Maze is open from October 1- October 31, on Friday and Saturday nights until 10pm.

If you want to create a truly unique experience, you can now rent one of 18 firepits located inside the maze for private groups and parties. The staff at Bob’s Corn does all the work for you. Just bring your roasting sticks, food, and supplies. In the time it takes you to enjoy the hayride and check out the maze, the staff sets up your fire pit and transports your supplies to the maze for you. The firepits are open as early as 11 am and October weekends book fast. If you’re late to the party, Sarah recommends checking for a weekday bonfire opening.

What about the corn?

BY ELLEN HAITT

The days are shorter and cooler, the rush of growth in the farm fields is subsiding, and the pumpkins are bright orange. This is the time to relish the Snohomish Valley’s warm days and cool nights with a visit to Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm in Cathcart between Monroe and Woodinville.

In the fall, owners Bob and Sarah Ricci open their farm to guests, who arrive with little red wagons and their children in tow to search for the perfect plump pumpkin. October is the best time to grab your boots and connect with the season amid the backdrop of the beautiful Snohomish Valley.

Since 2001, the Ricci’s have created a fall festival, offering a full suite of farm activities including an apple launcher, hayrides, plus the sweetest corn, and roasted squash in the valley. For the littles ones, pick out a pumpkin in the field, navigate the kids’ maze, ride the cow train and enjoy the trike track. Whether it’s raining or the sun is shining, a visit to Bob’s Corn makes any fall afternoon a perfect day.

During the Fall Festival, which runs from mid-September to October 31, most visitors head

Sarah says she hears all the time that their corn is the sweetest. Maybe it’s the silt that the Snohomish River replenishes the soils with every flood season. Perhaps it’s the love that’s Bob’s been putting into it since that very first strip. Bob’s family has been farming in the Snohomish Valley since 1888. Bob had no interest in being a dairy farmer, though, so his father set him to task growing corn at nine years old. His father planted a strip of corn for him to tend and set up a farm stand at the end of the road. He would only sell 13 bakers’ dozen of the corncobs at a time. It wasn’t long, shared Sarah, before people wanted to see the cows, too, and he moved the farm stand up the drive.

Just as it was for Bob’s great grandfather Mike, the farm remains a family business. Bob bailed his first field of hay at 7 years old and his five daughters have been just as involved. During the festival,

Ellie Mae’s Fudge Shop is very popular with 16 delicious flavors of fudge. Lucy Jo started her own lemonade shop during last year’s festival.

At Bob’s Corn, Bob and Sarah are committed to keeping an authentic farm experience. “It’s been fun to make decisions about our growth based on our core values,” Sarah explained. “For us, the biggest one is authenticity. We try to make sure everything is very authentic to farming as much as possible.” Bob’s Corn is a working farm, Sarah explained. In the winter they’re repairing and adding infrastructure. In spring and summer, they’re planting, cultivating, weeding and harvesting.

Also important to the Ricci’s is the community they’ve developed through their hiring. The farm hires about 180 people seasonally every year. About half of those are youth and the rest include school bus drivers, retirees, and active parents. “We love the retired population. It’s just so awesome to have teenagers who can work with our older generation. It’s that cross-generational experience — they can learn so much from each other,” she said.

The Ricci’s should know. Bob’s parents still live on the farm and are an integral part of the family’s life and the foundation of the farm. His father, Darrell, runs the squash roasting and the corn roasting operation during the fall festival.

“He’s a very good cook,” Sarah said. What to Expect During the Fall Festival?

Expect to see your friends and neighbors. This is the last gasp of fall fun, so it can be busy, especially on the weekends. Luckily, the Ricci’s have been through a lot of fall festival seasons, and they have some great tips for you at https:// bobscorn.com/Tips so you can get the most out of your visit.

If you’d like to avoid the energy of a corn maze and just connect with the farm, there’s a good way to do that, too. Visit the farm store, a converted calf barn, seven days a week through October 31. You’ll find all the non-GMO produce they grow in Bob’s fields, like corn, zucchini, winter squash, and locally grown produce from neighboring farms. They also have apples, cider, honey, gourmet cheese, and the best sweet corn in Washington. Come on the weekend to experience corn and spaghetti and acorn squash fresh from Bob’s giant corn roaster. Tickets must be purchased online and in advance to visit the u-pick pumpkin patch, play barn, hayrides, and other kid’s activities. It will cost extra to use the apple cannon. Access to food, concessions, country store, and pre-picked pumpkins is free. Since this is a working farm in a fertile valley, expect mud when you visit and dress for the weather. For more information visit Bob’s Corn at www.bobscorn.com.

Fall Festivals

Baylor Farm

28511 Ben Howard Road

Monroe, WA fried cheese curds, funnel cake, and hand dipped corn dog. The pumpkin cider donuts are too good to last. Last but not least, pet a goat — you know you want to. Find the farm animals and check out the mini horses, a baby bull, bunnies, pheasants, and “the cutest goats ever.” Visit: www.cravenfarm.com.

In operation for a decade, the Baylor Farm is a no-nonsense pumpkin patch. Take a hay ride to the patch and pick out your pumpkin. Simple as that! “Will get a little muddy. No corn mazes, no food, no little pumpkin cutouts to stick your head through for pictures…,” they say on their social media. The tell-it-like-it-is operation also boasts the cheapest pumpkins you’ll find on a farm. Don’t ask for cider. You just came for the pumpkins. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

Novelty Hill Farm

26617 NE 124th Street, Duvall, WA

Stocker Farms

in the barn loft is fun for everyone. Come for the two-acre pumpkin patch, trike track, corn pool and farm critters. During the holiday season, they sell pre-cut Christmas trees. It’s a great place to leisurely find the perfect tree and garland, while enjoying hot cocoa and exploring the historic barns.

Visit: www.noveltyhillfarm.com.

PJ’s Pumpkin Patch

perfect backdrop for an insta-worthy moment. The farm’s pumpkin barn, antique phone booths and pumpkin arrangements, set against the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains, is the perfect opportunity for a fall family photo. From one reviewer: “The pumpkin patch, corn maze, kids activities, and the entire fall theme was phenomenal! What a wonderful experience for our family!” There are more than 30 attractions, such as a corn maze, duck races, steer roping, farmer foosball, a hayride, swings, a children’s climbing wall, cow train, sport ball arcade, and more. Visit: www.stockerfarms.com.

moments. Chris Waltman, his son and grandchildren represent three generations engaged in bringing the new operation to the area. The farm festival is operated by the Waltmans’ non-profit, Stars Unlimited, which uses sports as the vehicle to deliver lessons of character and leadership. “We want to help build up and equip families to produce healthy relationships and leaders in our community. Our vision is to grow our farm to be a fun, unique environment bringing families together from all over the state. We are excited for the future as we continue to develop in the years to come,” Chris said.

Visit: www.thelegacyfarm.org.

Remlinger farms

32610 NE 32nd Street, Carnation, WA

Remlinger Farms in the heart of Snoqualmie Valley is a toddler’s dream. It’s also the dream of Gary and Bonnie Remlinger, who took his father’s farm and wholesale corn operation and turned it into a destination for 200,000 annual visitors.

Craven Farm

13817 Shorts School Road

Snohomish, WA

The 70-acre Craven Farm is Snohomish Valley’s original pumpkin patch and fall farm festival for more than 35 years. The farm includes a 15-acre corn maze, hayride, and 50 varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds to pick. Kids will love the adventure maze, rubber duck race, mini golf, animal barn and scarecrow making. And don’t forget the giant slingshot of a pumpkin launcher and human foosball. Of course there’s some good eats, too! Roasted corn,

Near Duvall, Novelty Hill Farm, family-owned since the 1800s, is the last remaining landmark from a town named Novelty. The pumpkin and Christmas tree sales help fund the preservation of the historic barns, including the considerable effort involved in the family’s milling of boards to match the original shiplap siding of the dairy barn. During the fall season, rain or shine, young or old, the Novelty Hill Farm Hay Maze

Fern Bluff Road, Monroe, WA

Skykomish Valley’s family-friendly pumpkin patch is a small but mighty acre of pumpkin picking fun. A variety of pumpkins, sizes and shapes are waiting to be discovered under the giant vines. Baby boo’s (tiny ghost pumpkins) are always a treat to discover. The patch is open through October or until the last viable pumpkin is sold. Look to the market in the shed for cornstalk bundles, raw and unfiltered honey produced by busy local bees, and hot cider. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

Stocker Farms

8705 Marsh Road, Snohomish, WA

The 10-Acre U-Pick ’Em’ Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze are ripe for a little fall entertainment and the

The Legacy Farm

22601 U.S. 2, Monroe, WA

Pick a pumpkin and leave a legacy. That’s the plan for The Legacy Farm in Monroe. The 66-acre farm next to The Reptile Zoo on Highway 2 is open for its first season of pumpkin hunting. The two-acres of pumpkins are next to a corn maze and acres of beautiful meadows and farm land. Bring your camera and take a photo with Dirk the farm dog and Turk, a ‘turkey who thinks he is a dog,” as they wander about. The corn maze, Papa’s fire truck, kid zone, and carnival games will provide memorable

Thomas Family Farms

9010 Marsh Road Snohomish, WA

Come for the more than 140,000 pumpkins from 149 different varieties, a corn maze, Pro-Karts, campfires, zombies and apple cannons. If a little Halloween fright is in order, the Nightmare on 9 is among the Pacific Northwest’s favorite indoor haunts and the Zombie Paintball ride and Haunted Hayride are also hits. There is so much to do at Thomas Family Farms you could spend all weekend. Enjoy the full service indoor/outdoor 4,500 square foot beer and wine service in the barn. The food court runs day and night with pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches, donuts, sweet and salty kettle corn and lemonade. Toddlers get free entry for the corn maze, super slide, cow train and more.

Visit: www.thomasfamilyfarm.com.

The Country Fair Fun Park has over 25 rides and attractions geared especially for children, including animals to feed, live entertainment, pony rides, a steam train and a roller coaster well suited for little ones. They sell their famous pies onsite in the market and through 200 grocery stores in the area, including the incredible Bumbleberry pie, a mix of boysenberries, raspberries and blueberries, which also comes in a no-sugar-added version. Every berry pie is filled with two pounds of berries, leaving no room for preservatives or corn syrup. This is the real deal, folks. In the fall and winter they add pumpkin and holiday pies to the line-up.

The 200-acre farm includes a full service restaurant, bakery, ice cream parlor, and u-pick fields. While the farm has become wildly popular, one thing hasn’t changed — a working farm and humble produce stand remains at the foundation of it all. Gary still plows the fields and harvests the crops while Bonnie tends to the animals and educates young children about the history and future of farming.

The park and restaurant are open till the close of October. The Market stays open until the day before Thanksgiving. Fall treats include a u-pick pumpkin field, fall festival, hayrides, corn maze, and freshly poured signature wines, keg brew and cider. Visit: www.remlingerfarms.com.