A long time ago, a young man named Schaake met the woman of his dreams. At just 18 and 19 years old, they began running his father's farm together. They eventually had four children, who helped them build what is now known as Schaake's Pumpkin Patch.

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The farm, located on 100 acres by the Kansas River, grew corn, wheat, and had dairy cows. Back then, farm work was done with basic tools like a two-row planter and cultivator, as Larry recalls.

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The pumpkin patch began as a small 4-H project — just a pickup truck parked by the highway. Over time, it grew into an important part of the family's 1,400-acre farm. For 50 years, the Schaake family, their grandkids, and the nearby communities of Eudora, Lawrence, and others have helped turn it into a beloved family tradition.