Fall festival fun on the farm

WILLMAR, Minn. – Fall is a busy time of year on any farm, but for the Gatewood family, fall comes with a little extra planning and organizing.
Throughout the first and second weekends of October, the Gatewoods will host Grandpa’s Granary Fall Festival at Gatewood Farm near Willmar.
“We started fall festival because it was something different, something exciting as a community event to get people out to the farm to know who we are,” Jordan Gatewood said.
Jordan is the fourth generation of the Gatewood family to operate Gatewood Farm. Jordan and his wife, Kristi, and his parents, Gene and Shelly, milk 66 cows and farm 200 acres of corn, oat and alfalfa.
 The Gatewoods began the festival last year as a way to invite the public to their farm and promote Grandpa’s Granary, their on-farm store.
“We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into,” Gene said.
Gene said last year’s festival was successful, and they hope many will attend this year as well.
“It’s exciting to see people come out, and even if they have been here before, they always see or learn something new,” Gene said. “It leaves a huge impact.”
Planning for the festival starts in the winter. Jordan draws the corn maze design on graph paper. Then, in the spring, the field is planted in a north-south orientation while also being planted again from east to west to make the lines of the maze defined.
Once the corn is waist high, Jordan and Kristi knock the individual plants down to create the design. Then, a lawn mower is used to make the paths of the maze.
Jordan said they are adding a mini maze this year for children to use.
“We want to keep people coming so we need new and different things each year,” Jordan said.
There is something for everyone at fall festival. The event features a petting zoo comprised of the Gatewoods’ various animals, including calves, sheep, peacocks, chickens, goats, a miniature horse and miniature donkey.
There is also a bouncy house, corn pit, hayride, chainsaw carving and live music from local musicians. The Gatewoods also serve food during the event.
“We will be grilling hotdogs, burgers and will have the soft serve ice cream machine from our county (American Dairy Association),” Kristi said.
Grandpa’s Granary will be open, and visitors can purchase various cuts of farm-raised beef and lamb, and whole chickens that are locally processed. They also offer jams, jellies, eggs, ground wheat flour, ground rye flour and corn meal.
During the week leading up to the first weekend of fall festival, the Gatewoods do chores and harvest as usual until Friday. Then, they set everything up.
Family and friends help with planning the festival and managing the events during the days it is open. Gene and Shelly’s daughters, Julie Moekedick and Jessica Gatewood, and Gene’s sisters, Jill Gill and Judy Weterling, come home to assist with the event. Gene’s sisters make candies and baked goods to sell during the festival.
“The day of is the easy part; it’s the planning and prep work that is the most work,” Gene said.
The Gatewoods are no strangers when it comes to hosting on-farm events. They have hosted elementary classes and retirement groups for tours. They held a brisket feed and opened their farm for June Dairy Days. They hold an annual barn dance as well as wedding receptions for family and friends.
“Kids are so excited when they get here,” Kristi said .
Being involved in the community is important to the Gatewoods. Jordan and Kristi are involved in The Barn Theatre, a community theatre group in Willmar. Gene and Shelly are on the Kandiyohi County ADA board, and Gene is the chairman of the Fahlun Township board.    
As the fall festival grows so does the fun for both the Gatewoods and their community.
“Once they come, they like to come again,” Gene said. “It is fun visiting with people.”