PHOTO BY STURGEON PHOTOGRAPHY
Sunflowers
Leslee and Jay Schwirian share 500,000 sunflowers with the community.
BY PAMELA PALONGUE
Galore!
Leslee Schwirian was a full-time nurse and her husband, Jay, a podiatrist. They have grown sunflowers for 30 years on their family farm and raised their three children there. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the Schwirians realized how important it was for people to get out and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, in a way that was safe. They made the decision to plant thousands of sunflowers that year and, for the first time, they invited the public to visit the farm to enjoy them. People were so grateful for the opportunity to be outside and around other human beings, instead of just seeing them on Zoom. They had an astounding 2,000 visitors!
The family has been doing it ever since, and this year planted an incredible 500,000 sunflowers and welcomed around 8,000 visitors to Schwirian Farm. It’ s free to the public to visit, but there is a charge by the carload to park at the property across the street, which they don’ t own.
The Sunflower Festival took place in July, but various activities happen on the farm in the spring, summer and fall. In October when the flowers die off, the seeds are ready to be harvested and
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