Mike Downer: Hi everybody, I’m your host Mike Downer, and thanks for joining us on Howell’s Farm Experience. I’m here with Erin Conner of Howell’s Family Farm Greenhouse and Pumpkin Patch. How are we doing today, Erin?

Erin Conner: Doing good. The weather’s finally getting nice.

Mike Downer: It is, it is. I think that we’re finally getting into the point where it’s going to be extremely enjoyable to visit Howell’s. Today we’re going to be talking about what the best family activities near Des Moines are this fall. So let’s just kind of jump into it here. What I wanted to ask you is: what are the top family-friendly fall activities and experiences within driving distance of Des Moines, Iowa?

Erin Conner: When families near Des Moines ask what to do this fall, we always say start with Howell’s in Cumming, Iowa. We’re only about 25 minutes from downtown Des Moines, but it’s more like 10 minutes south of Jordan Creek. So we’re really not that far away.

Mike Downer: Not at all. I’ve driven up there and it’s a beautiful drive out there. It’s really not far at all. I mean, I live clear up in Ankeny and I can be down there in 35 minutes. So it’s not a bad drive at all. So Erin, let me ask you: why is fall in central Iowa a special time of year for families?

Erin Conner: It is fun for families because you get to create memories in a fun, down-home environment. Out here at our pumpkin patch and greenhouse, we have different activities such as wagon rides you can take with your family, a corn maze, and all of our huge trees in the yard are starting to change color, so you get that whole festive fall feel. We have white picket fences everywhere, so you even get that little Hallmark feel going on out here at our farm.

We also have activities like a little corn pool for the kids to play in. It’s also good for sensory activity. We have several playgrounds and farm animals that love attention and would love for you guys to come out and feed them.

Mike Downer: On top of all the fun, it sounds like there’s a lot of Instagram moments out there too.

Erin Conner: We have a lot of different photo ops set up in the fall. We also have a huge flower field for You-Pick flowers, which is a photo op in itself. There are always butterflies and birds out there. It’s just a nature lover’s dream.

Mike Downer: Sounds relaxing. Sounds like something that would be a lot of fun to do with the family. So what makes Howell’s Experience a must-visit destination during the fall season?

Erin Conner: We are a must-visit destination in the fall season because of the atmosphere and aesthetics out here. You get the whole Hallmark farm feel with the white picket fences, the trees, the leaves, the pick-your-own wildflowers, the little farm shops, concession stands, and all the activities. It’s really about the memories you can make with your friends and family and spending time connecting with each other.

Mike Downer: You know, it sounds like if my wife listens to this episode, I think I know what we’ll be doing this fall. Even though my kids are grown, she’ll still find a way to get me out there.

So besides what we talked about, what other activities or destinations can families combine with a visit to Howell’s?

Erin Conner: We are located on the Iowa Scenic Byway in Madison County. Part of our tourism is these scenic byways where you can visit different stops that all have their own unique things to see. We’ve got the covered bridges of Madison County, and downtown Winterset is always very beautiful this time of year in the fall.

There’s also the Covered Bridge Festival that takes place in the middle of October, the second weekend in October. Lots of people come down for that. They go to the festival first, then come over to Howell’s in the afternoon after shopping in Winterset.

Clark’s Tower in Winterset is very beautiful this time of year with all the leaves changing. People come to see the fall leaves, then come up here to see our display of beautiful fall colors too.

People come back several times in a season because they can’t fit it all into one day. Their kids are over here doing this, then over there doing that, and before you know it, it’s time to go home.

Mike Downer: Multiple visits seem pretty reasonable because with the color changes, it could be a completely different experience from one visit to the next.

Erin Conner: Exactly. In September we have goat cuddling and You-Pick flower fields. Then in October, the goat cuddling is over, but we still have flowers and the whole fall experience with pumpkins, cooler temperatures, crisp flannels, and leaves falling on the ground. Every week changes how it feels out here.

Mike Downer: Gotta love sweatshirt weather.

Erin Conner: Here on the farm, we call it flannel weather. Everyone’s got to have their flannels and pumpkin spice lattes.

Mike Downer: Nice. So what does a perfect family fall day itinerary look like when visiting Howell’s and the surrounding area?

Erin Conner: When they get here on the farm, they walk up this beautiful entrance with white picket fences on each side and trees starting to change color. You immediately get that out-in-the-country farm feel.

Then you see the white barn, all the pumpkins, pumpkin wagons, and playgrounds. People either head to the playground or the concession stand for some farm food. Then they visit the corn pool, maybe hear the pumpkin cannon go off, and head over there.

People tend to do the activities near the barn first, then they take a wagon ride out to the corn maze and pumpkin patch where they pick pumpkins and finish up their purchases.

Mike Downer: That sounds like an extremely full day. So how do activities at Howell’s cater to different age groups, from toddlers to teens to adults?

Erin Conner: When we first started the pumpkin patch 30 years ago, we had a little playground geared toward small children. As we evolved, we added more activities for tweens, teenagers, and adults.

For little kids, we have wiggle cars, swings, mud pies, and the corn pool. For older kids around 8 to 12, we have a huge obstacle course, beelines where you zip down the hill, and pedal goat carts.

For teenagers, we added paintball, corn cannons, pumpkin cannons, basketball games, target games, and a virtual corn maze game where you scan QR codes on your phone.

For couples on dates, they love picking flowers in the flower fields. Then they come upstairs in the barn and usually the gentlemen buy bouquets for their girlfriends.

We also offer adult beverages for adults visiting on dates.

Mike Downer: Nice. I’m in. You had me at adult beverages.

So in your opinion, why is agritourism a better choice than typical entertainment options for families?

Erin Conner: Agritourism is different because you learn where your food comes from. You get connected to agriculture, and you can’t appreciate it unless you understand how important it is.

We help kids learn how corn grows, the life cycle of pumpkins, and how to care for animals. They learn how to pick apples and pumpkins.

Agritourism helps people reconnect with their roots and appreciate the land because land is important, and we don’t want to lose that connection.

Mike Downer: I love that because you’re not going to get that experience at a mall, movie theater, or arcade.

Erin Conner: Exactly.

Mike Downer: I agree with you 10,000 percent. I’m a little bit older, I’m from Iowa, and I love the fact that you guys are keeping this alive.

So why do families often return to Howell’s multiple times in a single season?

Erin Conner: Every visit is different. There might be new animals, different flowers to pick, or maybe we had a frost the day before and now you can see a sea of pumpkins because the vines got frosted over.

Sometimes it’s snowing and people enjoy seeing the landscape covered in snow. We have season pass holders who come just to visit the animals, see what’s new in the market, or enjoy the wagon ride and scenic views.

We’re always changing. Every day is different.

Mike Downer: I can definitely see why people would come out multiple times.

So now that we’ve talked about everything there is to do out there and why people would want to visit more than once, let’s wrap up the episode. Tell us what special events visitors can look forward to at Howell’s throughout the year.

Erin Conner: During the fall season, we have our Flower Festival starting in early September. Sunflowers bloom in mid-to-late September depending on the season. Our You-Pick wildflower and dried flower fields stay open until frost, usually around the Covered Bridge Festival.

We have goat cuddling from Labor Day through the third weekend in September. Then the fourth weekend in September we host Heroes Weekend for military members, EMS, police officers, nurses, and teachers with special admission pricing.

In October, we begin our Fall Festival with extra activities, and we finish the season with trick-or-treating around the farm and a pumpkin smash during the last weekend of October.

Mike Downer: Very cool. It sounds like you already have quite a few activities planned in addition to the whole farm atmosphere we talked about. Sounds like there are a ton of reasons for people to get out there from now through the end of the year.

Erin Conner: Yes.

Mike Downer: Perfect. Well, thanks for filling us in today, Erin, and letting us know what there is to do in your area and all the adjoining activities. I look forward to the next time we talk.

Erin Conner: Thanks for calling.

Mike Downer: Hey, thanks Erin.