Very excited children crowded the barrier in anticipation of Haider’s annual pumpkin patch. When Justin Haider finally allowed them through, the crowd burst into a chaotic mob running down the hill. What was the prize at the bottom? Around 1,200 pumpkins sat on the ground, ready for the picking.
The pumpkins were either grown or brought in. The children were unconcerned with the fact that none of the pumpkins were attached to the ground. Several children quickly picked pumpkins which seemed too heavy for them, yet they were able to amble back up the hill. A few families brought wagons for hauling their pumpkins back to their vehicles. The pumpkins were all of at least a medium size, and ranged from light yellow to deep orange. Some were smooth, while others had deep grooves or significant bumps. Babies, small children, bigger children, and adults were all there.
All around, excitement and joy were in the air. The Haiders said that they wanted to have enough pumpkins available for everyone. Quite a few pumpkins were still on the ground after the crowd had dispersed. Justin Haider, who was in charge of the event, said that the South Dakota Developmental Center, as well as local nursing facilities, would be able to bring residents out for pumpkin picking in the next few days.

Haider said that he received a lot of help from his family, and from his friend Chad Moore. They helped put things together. During the event, cookies and drinks were available. The sheriff’s department helped to direct traffic on and off the Haider property. A rough estimate was that a couple hundred people were there for the pumpkin patch event.
Haider said that he started hosting the pumpkin patch when his own kids were little. He remembered picking pumpkins at Vinegar Flats when he was young. This site flooded one year, and the event was moved. He said that he’d been doing the event for about 15 years. A Redfield native, he felt a sense of community. He said “I like to see Redfield thrive.” Haider added that he liked to see the kids, happily running around. He was glad to be able to offer the event to the community at large. The event will continue to be held every October.