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Pumpkin mania
Obion County native Alan Shirley turns agritourism dream into a reality
| Story by: Alaina Staggs; photos by: Hannah Nave |
9/30/2019 |
Farming runs in the veins of many a West Tennessean, but for Obion native Alan Shirley, the vocation has always been a true passion.
Alan lives on the longtime family farm, with an operation of 80 head of cattle, a small feed lot, and a hay crop that consists of alfalfa, wheat, and straw. However, there is another aspect of the farm that is closest to the 69-year old’s heart: The Pumpkin Barn.
The Pumpkin Barn is a seasonal agritourism venue, mere minutes from Reelfoot Lake, that sits on 20 acres of land. Nestled into the far northwest corner of Tennessee, the attraction draws customers from Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky each season. With 30 years of operation under his belt, Alan is proud of what a small pumpkin patch has evolved into.
The idea for the pumpkin patch began when his children were young. They grew pumpkin crops as part of their 4-H and FFA projects and sold them from the front yard and at the Reelfoot Lake Arts and Crafts Center.
It was during these visits to the center each fall that Alan heard about larger agritourism venues north of Tennessee. He eventually attended a traveling bus tour in the ‘80s throughout the northeastern United States, making stops in places such as Michigan and Wisconsin to visit the budding agritourism operations there. He was amazed at the things he saw, relating that “you just don’t see that many people down south.”
It was then that he decided to do something special.
“Every agritourism operation needs a niche,” he says. “Mine is exotic animals.”
Alan has operated a USDA-certified
zoo exhibit fueled by feeds purchased at Obion Farmers Cooperative for more than 15 years. The farm hosts exotic cattle breeds, water buffalo, zebu, camels, and zedonks, a zebra-donkey hybrid. Several breeds of monkeys also make their home there, along with a variety of traditional farm animals. A gift shop is available on site where fall décor and pumpkins can be purchased.
While Alan no longer grows his own pumpkins, all of the pumpkins the operation sells are raised in Obion County.
“Without the help of this community, none of this would be possible,” says Alan. “This is a community operation that builds memories.”
The Pumpkin Barn, LLC, a member of Pick TN Products, will be open from Sept. 20-Oct. 31. Hours are 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Following is a list of Tennessee agritourism destinations we were aware of as of press time. Most are open through the end of October, but we suggest you call ahead or check websites or Facebook pages for specific dates and hours of operation.
East
Adventure Ranch
7464 West Andrew Johnson Hwy., Morristown
865-282-3516
adventureranch.com
Facebook: @GreatSmokyFarm
Autumn Acres
1096 Baier Rd., Crossville
931-210-7655
autumnacres.net
Facebook: @AutumnAcresCornMaze
Ballinger Farm Crazy Maze
2738 Renfro Rd., Jefferson City
865-475-7513
ballingerfarm.com
Facebook: @BallingerFarm
Beck Mountain Corn Maze &
Entertainment Barn
110 Corn Maze Ln., Elizabethton
423-747-1190
beckmountaincornmaze.com
Facebook: @BeckMountainCornMaze
Cleek Farms
2233 Cleek Rd., Kingsport
423-765-3123
cleekfarms.com
Facebook: @CleekFarmsCornMaze
Deep Well Farm
9567 Hwy. 11 East, Lenoir City
865-816-2131
deepwellfarm.com
Facebook: @DeepWellFarm
Echo Valley Farms
915 Bethel Church Rd., Jefferson City
865-591-7343
echovalleycornmaze.com
Facebook: @EchoValleyFarmTN
Edwards Amazing Acres
1139 Ernest Norris Rd., Jamestown
931-260-7489
Facebook: @EdwardsAmazingAcres
Fender’s Farm
254 Hwy. 107, Jonesborough
423-753-4469
Facebook: @FendersFarm
Guthrie Farm
490 County Rd. 67, Riceville
423-650-2939
tnpumpkinfarm.com
Facebook: @TNPumpkinFarm
Hyde Farms
7545 Hwy. 411 South, Greenback
423-667-6981
Facebook: HydeFarmsGreenback
Kyker Farms
938 Alder Branch Rd., Sevierville
865-679-4848
kykerfarmscornmaze.com
Facebook: @KykerFarmsCornMaze
Laurels Pumpkin Barn
303 Laurels Rd., Johnson City
laurelspumpkinbarn.com
Facebook: @LaurelsPumpkinBarn
Maple Lane Farms
1126 Maple Ln., Greenback
865-856-3517
tnmaplelanefarms.com
Facebook: @TNMapleLaneFarms
McMillan Farms
495 McMillan Rd., Mosheim
423-823-2867
Myers Pumpkin Patch &
Corn Maze/ Myers Greenhouse
3415 Gap Creek Rd., Bulls Gap
423-235-4796
Oakes Farm
8240 Corryton Rd., Corryton
865-688-6200
oakesfarm.com
Facebook: @OakesFarm
Old McDonald’s Farm
16705 Coulterville Rd., Sale Creek
423-531-2676
oldmcdonaldsfarm.net
Facebook: @McDonaldFarmTN
The River Maze
1371 Hwy. 64, Ocoee
423-650-7222
therivermaze.com
Facebook: @TheRiverMaze
The Stickley Farm, LLC
550 Beaver Creek Rd., Bluff City
423-360-4809
thestickleyfarm.com
Facebook: @StickleyFarm
Middle
Amazin’ Acres of Fun
2857 Old Kentucky Rd., Sparta
931-761-2971
amazinacres.com
Facebook: @AmazinAcresOfFun
Bottom View Farm
185 Wilkerson Lane, Portland
615-325-7017
bottomviewfarm.com
Facebook: @BottomViewFarm
Boyd’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze
1425 Hwy. 76, Clarksville
931-216-8250
boydspumpkinpatch.com
Facebook: @BoydsPumpkinPatch
Bradley Kountry Acres & Greenhouse
650 Jake Link Rd., Cottontown
615-325-2836
bradleykountryacres.com
Facebook: @BradleyKountryAcres
Brown Farms
7231 Cainsville Pike, Lascassas
615-962-5715
Facebook: @BrownFarms
Cedarwood Farms
2900 Old Nashville Hwy., McMinnville
931-939-3960
cedarwoodfarmstn.com
Facebook: @CedarWoodFarms
Gentry’s Farm
1974 New Hwy. 96 West, Franklin
615-794-4368
gentryfarm.com
Facebook: @GentryFarm
Grandaddy’s Farm
454 Highland Ridge Rd., Estill Springs
931-327-4080
grandaddysfarm.com
Facebook: @GrandaddysFarm
Holiday Acres Farm
346 Campbellsville Hwy., Ethridge
931-829-2660
holidayacresfarm.com
Facebook: @HolidayAcresFarmTN
Honeysuckle Hill Farm
1765 Martins Chapel
Church Rd., Springfield
615-382-7593
honeysucklehillfarm.com
Facebook: @HoneysuckleHillFarm
Keller’s Corny Country
542 Fire Tower Rd., Dickson
615-441-4872
kellerscornycountry.com
Facebook: @Kellers.Country.Events
Limoland
8076 Columbia Hwy., Pulaski
931-363-5744
limolandfarm.com
Facebook: @LimoLand
Lucky Ladd Farms
4374 Rocky Glade Rd., Eagleville
615-274-3786
luckyladdfarms.com
Facebook: @LuckyLaddFarms
Lyon Family Farms
130 Bellview Rd., Taft
931-438-9938
lyonfamilyfarms.com
Facebook: @LyonFamilyFarms
Pumpkin Hill
861 Benders Ferry Rd., Mt. Juliet
615-758-5364
pumpkinhilltn.com
Facebook: @PumpkinHill
Ring Farm
2628 Greens Mill Rd., Columbia
931-486-2395
ringfarm.com
Facebook: @RingFarm
Shuckles Corn Maze at Fiddle Dee Farms
7526 Swift Rd., Greenbrier
615-669-6293
fiddledeefarm.com
Facebook: @FiddleDeeFarms
Walden Pumpkin Farm
8653 Rocky Fork Rd., Smyrna
615-220-2918
waldenfarm.biz
Facebook: @WaldenPumpkinFarm
White’s Family Farm
4853 Jones Roe Rd., Springfield
615-585-4331
whitesfamilyfarm.org
Facebook: @WhitesFamilyFarm
The Wilson Family Farm
4809 Byrd Lane, College Grove
615-587-2676
thewilsonfamilyfarm.com
Facebook: @WilsonFamilyFarm1
West
Donnell Century Farm Adventure
3720 Hwy. 70 East, Jackson
731-424-4526
donnellcenturyfarm.com
Facebook: @DonnellCenturyFarm
Falcon Ridge Farm
22630 Hwy. 18 North, Toone
731-658-5200
farmatfalconridge.com
Facebook: @FalconRidgeFarm.Net
Holt Family Farms
461 Jewell Store Rd., Dresden
731-364-3459
holtfamilyfarms.com
Facebook: @HoltFamilyFarms
Jones Corn Maze & Market
6850 Singleton Parkway, Millington
901-873-3150
jonesorchard.com
Facebook: @JonesOrchard
Mid-South Maze at Agricenter International
7777 Walnut Grove Rd., Memphis
901-870-6338
midsouthmaze.com
Facebook: @TheMidSouthMaze
Nanney Farms Pumpkin Patch
1767 Sharon Rd., Sharon
731-514-2431
Facebook: @NanneyPumpkinPatch
Rushing Pumpkin Patch
6105 Roby Rd., Enville
731-549-6053
Facebook: @RushingPumpkinPatch
Shirley’s Farm Pumpkin Barn
2557 South Bluff Rd., Obion
731-264-5316
Facebook: @ThePumpkinBarnLLC
Todd Family Fun Farm
101 Tom Austin Rd., Dyer
731-643-6720
toddfamilyfunfarm.com
Facebook: @ToddFamilyFunFarm
Tom’s Farm
1665 Murrell Rd., Rossville
901-853-0997
Facebook: @PumpkinPatch.Fall
Wallace Farms
1140 Douglas Rd., Lexington
731-614-8625
Facebook: @WallaceBerryFarm
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