Posted: 10/8/03

Wittner takes over Lendtís Pumpkin Patch

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

After more than 30 years of carefully planting and tending to his crop of pumpkins, Roy Lendt is ripe for retirement. He is passing on the family business to his daughter, Val Wittner.

Lendtís Pumpkin Patch has been an area favorite for several years, as families head to the fields to pick the seasonís harvest.

This year was the last for the father-daughter operation, as Lendt, 75, is retiring.

Seeds

Itís hard to recall the exact year it all began. The history of the business comes from family memories approximations. And, standing in Lendtís back yard last week, even Wittner had to ask, ìYeah, why pumpkins, Dad?î

It all started more than 30 years ago, when Roy and Ann Lendt, looking for some extra income, turned to their love of gardening.

ìI was working in carpentry at the time. I needed some extra income so I planted some pumpkins. I guess I just kinda enjoy raising them,î Lendt said.

Whatever the reason, fallís bounty has worked well for the family.

Lendt and Wittner have been working together as business partners for more than 10 years. What started as a wholesale business in the early years transformed to a retail center, with the base of operations in Wittnerís front yard, just up the road from her parentís home.

Over the years, before retirement came in the picture, Lendt tended to the crop; Wittner tended to the business.

ìWe were 50/50. He would plant it and care for them and in the fall Iíd sell them,î Wittner said of how things have been at Lendtís Pumpkin Patch.

In April, Wittner quit her job to take on the pumpkin profession full time. And she learned from a master.

From late spring, Wittner has been working with and learning from her dad the best way to grow harvest produce.

ìIt is incredible how much knowledge he has in his brain,î Wittner said of her dad.

And Wittner has been learning by osmosis for yearsósince she was a teenager helping in the fields.

ìI certainly saw they were planted in rows and how far apartóbut itís unbelievable when youíre out there.î Wittner said. ìFarmers are wonderfully smart.î

In addition to learning the best way to grow big healthy pumpkins, Wittner is taking on the other tasks of farming.

Tasks such as changing oil on the tractor are making their way into Wittnerís knowledge realm.

It began as a wholesale business and, due to customer demand, Lendtís Pumpkin Patch has been a retail outlet for autumnís crops.

The crop

An orange haze looms over the fields at Lendtís. Despite an earlier than average hard freeze and a drier than average summer, Lendt and Wittner boast of a bumper pumpkin crop.

ìThe pumpkins are still good out there,î Wittner said. ìThe frost didnít hurt them.î

Customers can come to Lendtís to pick out fall decor and future Jack-O-Lanterns from pre-picked produce in the front lawn. Pick-your-own pumpkins are available for just $2 each, no matter the size.

Wittner encourages folks to make a fun fall activity of picking out pumpkins. There is a picnic area for families to enjoy an autumn afternoon and an extensive Halloween scene for great photo opportunities. Face painting and concessions are available on weekends.

Lendtís also has a variety of squash, gourds, Indian corn, straw, hay and broom corn and painted pumpkins available for sale.

Hours/information

Lendtís Pumpkin Patch is open 9 a.m. to dusk seven days a week through Friday, October 31.

Hayrides, for a minimum of 15 people, are available by reservation. For more information on Lendtís or to reserve a hayride, call 651-462-1516.

Lendtís is located 1‡ miles east of Wyoming on CR-22. Look for the Halloween display.

Top of Page