It's Harvest Time!

Autumn in the Midwest brings a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables. In September, apples are at their peak, while in October, just in time for Halloween, pumpkins are ripe and ready to be picked. Many growers in Kansas and Missouri sell their harvest at local farmers markets, but you can also pick your own at area farms and orchards from September to December. Some locations even offer tractor-pulled hay rides, fresh apple cider, corn mazes and more. Remember to call before you go - weather, heavy picking and business conditions can impact hours and crops!

KANSAS

• Gardner: KC Pumpkin Patch, 29755 W. 191st St., 913-484-6251
  http://www.kcpumpkinpatch.com
  The 60 acre farm features pumpkin picking, a pumpkin cannon, barrel train, zip line, petting zoo, haunted barn, milking cow, tricycle track, hill slides, corn maze, hay fort, hayrack rides punkin'chunkin', concessions, and more.
• Lawrence: Schaake Pumpkin Patch, 1791 North 1500 Road, 785-843-2359
  http://www.schaakespumpkinpatch.com
  A 24 acre pumpkin patch with farm animals, a hay maze, Indian corn, gourds, corn shocks, and hay rides.
• Louisburg: Louisburg Cider Mill Hwy 68, 913-837-5202
  http://www.louisburgcidermill.com/index.html
  Family activities include apple picking, a petting zoo, picking pumpkins, hayrides, watching kettle corn being popped and fresh apple cider.

MISSOURI

• Liberty: Carolyn's Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch, 210 & 291 Highway, 816-781-9196
  http://www.carolynscountrycousins.com
  This 50 acre pumpkin patch offers wagon rides, a petting farm, hayrides, face painting, straw maze, and a farm slide. Live entertainment on the weekends includes music and Uncle Lester's Pig Races.
• Weston: Vaughn Orchard & Country Store, 23200 N. Highway 273, 816-386-2900
  http://ci.weston.mo.us/pages/whattodo/vaughns_orchard/vo.html
  Apple orchard offers apple picking, fresh apple cider pressed in a mill, apple butter cooked in a kettle over an open fire, and barbeque prepared on site.
• Weston: Weston Red Barn Farm, 16300 Wilkerson Road, 816-FUN-KIDS
  http://www.westonredbarnfarm.com/main.htm
  A children's educational farm featuring an apple orchard, a pumpkin patch and many seasonal family activities.

For more listings in Kansas and Missouri: http://www.pickyourown.org or http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org