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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Vinton Christmas tree growers offer a new place to buy pumpkins
VINTON — Jenni Birker and her family are ushering in a new fall tradition.
For 30 years, the Birkers visited Sanders Pumpkin Farm to pick up their gourds. But last year, Bonnie Sanders closed the farm just south of Vinton.
The Birkers, who live between Vinton and Garrison, did not have to go far to find a new place to buy pumpkins, though. This year, Deb and Kevin Kacena, who also grow Christmas trees, began selling pumpkins as well.
Kevin Kacena said the pumpkin crop is strong. The farm has 20 to 30 varieties of squash and an additional 10 types of gourds, pumpkins and Indian corn, he said.
The farm also has photo booths for families to take pictures, toys for children and a walking trail around the tree farm perimeter.
Kevin said most of Sanders' former customers are pleased with the Kacenas picking up the tradition.
'A lot of the people that helped Sanders pick and do some of that work, they also help us,' Kevin said. 'They've been doing it for generations so they wanted to keep going.'
'So far, it has been really fantastic,' Deb added. 'The community is just so overwhelmed with excitement because they thought that they weren't going to have any place to get their pumpkins anymore and then they come out to our place and we have all of Bonnie Sanders' original items that she had, all her crops, same kinds of set up, same kinds of squash and people are really happy that somebody took the tradition over.'
Birker, who has three children, planned to celebrate her daughter's birthday at the pumpkin farm.
'When we found out that Deb and Kevin were going to take over when Bonnie retired, it just seemed like a natural thing to keep the same sort of traditions and maybe start a few new ones within our same community,' Birker said.
The Kacena Farm is open daily from 3:30 to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The pumpkin operation will close for the season on Oct. 31. The farm will reopen Nov. 27 and begin selling Christmas trees.
Jackson Nielsen, 6, lifts a pumpkin with father, Chris of Walker at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Jackson Nielson, 6, situates a pumpkin in his wagon with family members Quinn, 3, 6-month old Kendall and parents Chris and Tiffany of Walker at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Lucas Rippel, 2, of Raleigh runs through the pumpkin field with his wagon at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Owners of Kacena Farms, Deb and Kevin Kacena pose for a photo at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Anrie Wittmer, 2, looks at candles in the gift shop at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Kristin Holst of Vinton prepares squash samples for guests at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Mitch Kacena of Vinton weighs pumpkins and helps check out families at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Pumpkins are picked and sit ready to be at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Monique Smith of Vinton picks out squash with her kids Will and Elise at the Kacena Pumpkin Farm in Vinton on October 4, 2015. Deb and Kevin Kacena started a pumpkin farm to keep the pumping farm tradition going in Vinton after a local farm retired from the business last year. They offer a variety of pumpkins and squash, as well as a gift shop inside a small barn. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
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