“Unleash Family Fun at Ellis’ Harvest Home: A Wyoming Livestock Adventure!”

Ellis’ Harvest Home, situated in Goshen County, has been cultivating and selling pumpkins for over two decades, providing a diverse assortment each season.

From sizable and petite pumpkins to white and knobby types, the Ellis pumpkin patch guarantees enjoyment for the entire family as they wander through fields searching for the ideal pumpkin to pick straight from the vine.

However, the fun does not stop there. Annually, Ellis’ Harvest Home constructs a new corn maze and introduces various attractions, supplying families from both local and distant areas with a selection of activities suitable for individuals of all ages.

Moreover, students can spend a day on the farm, engaging in play and gaining knowledge about agriculture during coordinated field trips.

The farm also presents autumn decorations, such as straw bales, corn shocks, gourds, and decorative corn, in addition to a choice of pumpkins available.

The family-operated farm

“My parents purchased the farm in 1959. Shortly after, I was born in 1960,” states Dan Ellis, the owner of Ellis’ Harvest Home, often referred to as “The Pumpkin Man.” “In 1979, I acquired and relocated to my own farm. Then, I returned to my original home place in 2007.”

Currently, Ellis’ Harvest Home comprises three partners – Dan’s wife Cheryl Ellis, known as “The Snack Queen,” and their son Zack Ellis, dubbed “The Pumpkin Whisperer.”

“Ellis’ Harvest Home commenced in 1980 when I planted two hills of pumpkins for amusement,” Dan reflects. “I gifted the pumpkins to my nieces and nephews, and the subsequent year I cultivated a few additional ones.”

“Then I planted a 100-foot-long row, which expanded to one-eighth of an acre, and eventually three acres,” he elaborates.

Initially, Dan began selling a few pumpkins from their farmyard, and it progressively expanded until it reached a point where they had to either cease operations or establish it as a business.

“I suppose we transformed it into a business,” Dan laughs.

“We initiated the corn maze in 2008, and we’ve experienced considerable growth over the past 17 years,” he adds.

Now, Ellis’ Harvest Home cultivates approximately 12 acres of pumpkins and has significantly expanded, incorporating various activities for families to relish.

As the business continues its upward trajectory, they hire 10 or more individuals each fall to assist.

Something for everyone

In 2024, Ellis’ Harvest Home marked its 17^th corn maze and is recognized as Wyoming’s most enduring pumpkin patch, providing over 50 varieties to select from.

“We began offering an evening for adults featuring live music, cuisine, and a beer garden,” Dan describes. “We also introduced flower-picking events, where guests can pick their own sunflowers and zinnias while enjoying food specials.”

The farm showcases a variety of attractions, including a hay maze for young adventurers to conquer and run through, as well as corn boxes for splashing about.

Visitors can wander over to the petting zoo, allowing for interactions with the farm’s pigs, chickens, goats, alpacas, and more.

Children of all ages can hone their aim at the grain cart basketball hoop or the football toss. Another favorite on the farm is the jumping pillows, where guests can have a blast bouncing around.

After scaling the spider web or climbing the tire tree, patrons can gather at the feed bunk to satiate their hunger and quench their thirst.

Ellis’ Harvest Home provides a wide array of menu items and can cater to any requests while satisfying cravings for sweets, as they are well-known for their exquisite homemade cinnamon rolls and caramel apples.

This autumn, gather the entire family and explore Ellis’ Harvest Home pumpkin patch and corn maze, which opens on the last Saturday in September and concludes on October 31.

For additional details, visit ellisharvesthome.com or call 307-532-1686.

Melissa Anderson serves as the editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Please send feedback on this article to roundup@wylr.net.