Embrace the fall season with Schnepf Farms’ month-long pumpkin party
Celebrating October with family, friends and delicious food
Schnepf Farms is a family-owned company that began in 1941 and has been handed down through the Schnepf family for four generations. Though now famous for its sweet peaches and other crops, the Schnepf business was originally a simple cotton farm.
“At one time, (we) were farming over 5000 acres, with the main crop being potatoes—made into potato chips—and cotton,” said Carrie Schnepf, co-owner of the farm. “We started downsizing 35 years ago and then transitioned over the last 20 years, focusing more on agritourism.”
Today, the farm is still operated by Mark and Carrie Schnepf and their four children. The farm is approximately 300 acres and is the largest peach grower in the State of Arizona.
“The farm also hosts thousands of schoolchildren for educational tours, farm festivals and events that attract over 200,000 people,” said Schnepf.
Pumpkins and chili
The farm hosts many events throughout the year, but Schnepf said she always looks forward to the month of October. “The Pumpkin and Chili Party is my favourite event,” she said. “It runs every Thursday through Sunday in October and started just because we wanted to do a little pumpkin event in the evening. I wanted people to be able to sit around a bonfire and roast marshmallows and eat a warm bowl of chili because it makes you think ‘fall’.” This event features many attractions for adults and kids alike, including train rides, hay rides, corn mazes, pig races, crafts, live entertainment, miniature golf, massive chili and chicken dinners, caramel apple pies and much more. “(We have) a unique dog show and a BMX skate show, both coming from other theme parks,” said Schnepf, “and we end the evenings on Friday and Saturday nights with a spectacular fireworks show.”
A special place to call home
With decades of experience, the Schnepf family really knows how to keep up the community energy and run an exciting business. “It’s a beautiful farm with orchards and gardens and is very close to a large city,” said Schnepf. “It allows city folks to experience a real working farm, with opportunities to just walk around and enjoy the beauty of the season, especially the peach blossoms, or take a John Deere cruiser and bike around, pick fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the trees, enjoy unique dinners down in the orchards, tour or visit the bakery, or even get married on the farm.”
The farm’s wide variety of activities and peaceful atmosphere provide the perfect destination for any visitor to experience the beauty of Arizona.
“When you are on the farm, you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere,” said Schnepf. “It truly is a little piece of country heaven in the craziness of the city.”
