Mid-Missouri pumpkin farmers aren't going to let the spring floodwater stand in their way as the fall season approaches.
Jay Fischer, of Fischer Farms in North Jefferson City, spent 48 days out of his home when levee breaks caused his farm to flood back in June. While his house was out of flood range, much of the rest of his property was underwater - it took a mile-and-a-half boat ride to get to their house.
Like many other local farmers', Fischer's crops were destroyed by the floodwater, and a portion of his land remains unusable due to standing water or large sand deposits from the Missouri River.
However, now that the water is down, Fischer and his wife, Kim, are dealing with the aftermath while preparing to open their annual pumpkin patch.
"We've got to clean up, and we've got to repair. We've got to do it anyways, so we might as well try to get it open where people can come if they want to," Fischer said.
Each year, the Fischers open their farm to families for fall activities like picking pumpkins and a corn maze.
Although later than usual, the pumpkins are planted and growing. Fischer said he planted around the end of July, about a month later than he normally would. They also had to plant fewer pumpkins this year - about 25 acres compared to the normal 40-50.
He also planted a corn maze, although it's a little smaller than usual and a bit oddly shaped due to some remaining floodwater.
Despite the late start, the pumpkin patch and corn maze are on their way. Right now, the pumpkin field is covered in green vines, bright orange flowers and growing pumpkins, although you might mistake them for small watermelons right now - they're still green.
"The pumpkins are growing - there's little pumpkins on them - but we really need some sunshine. It's been so cloudy and so rainy," Fischer said. "You need sunshine to get them to size up and mature and turn orange. That's been our issue right now."
While they'd normally be ready by mid-September, he hopes to have full-grown, orange pumpkins by the first week of October.
Down the river in Hartsburg, Jo Hackman is in a similar situation with pumpkin crops after the flood receded. Hackman lost all of her other crops but was able to get pumpkins planted, just a little behind schedule.
"I think we're good, until we can actually get in the field; but you can't get in and disturb the vines right now, so it's kind of hard to tell what we have," Hackman said. "But the vines look good - we had a lot of blooms and everything - so really I think we should have a decent crop. I hope."
While the pumpkins were planted in the first week of July instead of mid-June, Hackman feels optimistic about the coming crop and is confident they will have plenty of pumpkins to pick from at the 27th annual Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival.
The event, held every year but one since 1991, welcomes thousands to the small town of Hartsburg - population 105 - for fall festivities and pumpkin picking.
In 1993 the festival was cancelled due to flooding, but Hackman said there was no consideration of that happening this year - and there will be pumpkins.
"We always have pumpkins," Hackman said. "We always want to make sure we have pumpkins."
Fischer said it was important to him that the farm be open for the fall if possible. So between cleaning dump truckloads of dirt out of their barn - on which you can still see a water line at about 4 feet, 7 inches - and repairing buildings, the Fischers made sure to plant not only their pumpkins but also the corn maze.
"We've got people that have been so loyal, they've brought their kids and now they're bringing their grandkids, and I don't want them to not have a place to go this fall," he said.
Other Fischer Farm staples will return, like the animals, but some things might be missing this year, like the hay pile and apples grown on the farm. Fischer said he's trying to bring some other things so people will still have a full, fun experience.
Fischer Farms will open Sept. 27.
The Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 12-13, will feature craft booths, food, music and other free, family-friendly fall activities.