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November 2018
VOLUME 1 | NO. 4
Senior Connections HJ.COM
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The pumpkin patch – a family affair
DEB COX-JOHNSON
Correspondent
The pumpkin patch on the north side of Highway
12 between Howard Lake and Cokato is a familiar
sight to area residents and many enjoy watching
the season progress. As the pumpkins grow from
blossoms to round orange spheres, and then get bigger
and bigger, it is a colorful and cheerful reminder that
fall is coming.
The pumpkin patch started more than years ago
and while it might look mostly the same from year to
year, a lot has changed over the years.
Then ...
Dan Nyquist and his wife of 59 years, Helen,
originally started the pumpkin patch as a way to fund
their children’s college. All three of their children
worked alongside their parents every step of the way.
Originally, there were four or fi ve varieties grown,
and the pumpkins were a small part of the much
larger farm.
... and Now
Today the “patch” includes two and one-half acres
of pumpkins, squash, gourds, seed corn and decorative
corn.. Every year, between 40 and 50 varieties are
planted. Some of the pumpkins are custom grown
for specifi c destinations. These include giant-size
pumpkins about 4 feet high for displays in public and
civic locations.
Nyquist works closely with Harris Seeds, one of
the premier suppliers of specialty seeds. Nyquist
and Harris consult before planting and throughout
the growing season. Harris Seeds values Nyquist’s
feedback and Nyquist can stay better informed about
new varieties and the latest trends.
In addition to the pumpkins, squash, gourds, and
corn, visitors can also buy raw honey. The honey
is produced by approximately 80 beehives located
elsewhere on the property. Nyquist stated that one of
his favorite times of the year is spring and summer,
when he can see the pumpkin fi elds fl ooded with
happy, buzzing bees.
One thing that hasn’t changed is that the pumpkins
are still very much a family affair. These days, it’s
not just the three adult children, but spouses and
grandchildren who work the pumpkins. And the
funds still go to support one or more of the eight
grandchildren’s current college expenses. Some
of the grandchildren have already graduated, but
they continue to work in the pumpkin fi elds. They
are paying it forward to the younger ones who are
currently attending or have yet to attend college.
The shared joys of pumpkins, music,
and books
Pumpkins awating future display.
PHOTO BY DEB COX-JOHNSON
Nyquist has found the biggest joy of all is simply
working alongside family. He stated that there is no
more satisfying adventure than sharing the planting,
tending and harvesting with family members of all ages.
He recently lost his wife, Helen, shortly after their
59th anniversary, but continues to treasure life with
family. Nyquist and his wife met at a skating party
in Cokato. He was home on leave after being drafted
into the Army after the Korean War. She was there
from her family’s farm in Hector. They married soon
after he was discharged.
For many years, Helen worked as a nurse at the
Senior
Connections
Dan Nyquist in the pumpkin fi eld.
PHOTO BY DEB COX-JOHNSON
Buffalo hospital and Dan managed the farm, which
included a dairy and crops. He once calculated
“sometime in the ‘60s” that, according to the
previous “Minnesota Farm Accounting System”, he
had worked 440 ten-hour days in a single year.
Their lives were very full, but they always found
time for books and music. Their daughter, Naomi,
learned to play the violin expertly at a very young
age. The sons did not, but all eight grandchildren
either learned or are learning to play early in life. The
Nyquists developed a collection of violins ranging
from the smallest child size through adolescent-sized
More PUMPKINS on Pg 11
is distributed to:
Annandale | Buffalo | Cokato | Darwin | Dassel | Delano | Glencoe | Howard Lake | Hutchinson | Kimball | Lester Prairie
Litchfi eld | Loretto | Maple Lake | Maple Plain | Mayer | Montrose | Mound | New Germany | Norwood Young America
Rockford | Silver Lake | South Haven | St. Bonifacius | Waconia | Watertown | Waverly | Winsted