Story by CIARA CEBALLOS-GUTIERREZ photos by EDEN STAPLES
Tiger Media Network
Pa’s Pumpkin Patch, located south of Hays, opened up for the season on Saturday. Visitors can enjoy familiar attractions, including the corn maze, pumpkin patch, animals, hayrack ride, train, and jumping pillow. Additionally, the pumpkin patch added a new attraction, a gaga ball pit.
While the pumpkin patch is ready for another season, this summer’s heat created challenges for the farm’s crops.
“The heat was a big factor in it and it hurt us a lot, mainly with the corn and it was hard to get water to all of our pumpkins,” Manager Camdyn Cooper said.
People attending take wagons out to the pumpkin patch and pulls it back to the barn. 
Pa’s Pumpkin Patch barn where games, food, animals, etc. are located. 
Fernanda Chambray’s baby girl playing in the corn pit. 
Pumpkin patch provides corn maze and decorative hay bales. 
Jacob and Fernanda Chambray enjoying wagon ride and cream sodas. 
Alpacas at the pumpkin patch sit in the barn waiting for people to pet and feed them. 
Kynleigh Mclaughlin and Rylee Mayberry doing backflips on the inflatable bounce pad while friend watches. 
Couple plays outside game at the patch. 
FHSU Freshmen Mitzil Carrillo Maldonado and Braylee Kinderknecht pose for photo on hay bales. 
Kynleigh Mclaughlin pets the donkeys at the barn. 
Alpaca shocked at how awesome the pumpkin patch opening is going. 
Willow Abendshein pulls wagon full of pumpkins back to the barn. 
Tractor ride at Pa’s Pumpkin Patch. 
Goats at the pumpkin patch sit in the barn waiting for people to pet and feed them. 
Jacob and Fernanda Chambray take photo in front of Pa’s Pumpkin Patch sign. 
Rylee Mayberry doing backflips on the inflatable bounce pad. 
Women cuts vine of pumpkin to take home. 
Family poses for photo with their 2-month-old baby girl on wagon. 
Girls pet the alpacas at the barn. 
Alpacas at the pumpkin patch sit in the barn waiting for people to pet and feed them. 
People attending take wagons out to the pumpkin patch and pulls it back to the barn. 
Kynleigh Mclaughlin doing backflips on the inflatable bounce pad. 
Ciara Ceballos-Gutierrez interviews donkeys about the opening for the fall season. 
Decorative train built for kids to play on. 
Alpacas at the pumpkin patch sit in the barn waiting for people to pet and feed them.
Despite the heat’s challenges, Cooper said the pumpkins were not affected as severely as the corn.
For visitors, the opening of the pumpkin patch marks the beginning of fall activities in the Hays area.
“It’s been just a great day to come out, and especially for the kids to have this experience especially for Hays being a smaller town,” FHSU professional advisor Jacob Chambray said. “A pumpkin patch for the fall is just a good family event to come and see.”
Pa’s is not only geared toward families; many Fort Hays students decided to take a look at what Pa’s has to offer.
“One of my friends works at the pumpkin patch, so she invited us to come over to look at the pumpkins, go through the corn maze, and look at all the cute goats,” said FHSU freshman Mitzil Carrillo-Maldonado.
As the season continues, Pa’s Pumpkin Patch hopes to see another increase in visitors.
“Usually our numbers keep going up and up, so hopefully we can keep seeing that,” Cooper said.
Pa’s Pumpkin Patch will remain open through Oct. 31. The patch is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $7. Visitors can find the pumpkin patch at 978 250th Ave.