ENTRY 001 • The One Where It All Started

2026 • Merkel, Texas

Before there were pumpkin rows, irrigation lines, seed packets, or flags all over a field, there was an idea.

I wanted to grow a pumpkin patch.

Not just a few pumpkins. I wanted to create a place where families could come in the fall, walk through the patch, find their pumpkin, take pictures, and hopefully make it one of those things they look forward to doing every year.

I'm 15, and this is my first year doing any of this. I definitely don't have it all figured out.

Actually, I'm learning pretty quickly that "plant pumpkins and open a pumpkin patch" sounds a whole lot simpler than it actually is.

But that's part of why I wanted to do it.

I wanted to build something of my own. I wanted to learn. I wanted the challenge of taking an idea in my head and figuring out how to make it real.

And I'm lucky enough to have a family willing to help me try.

There's a Bigger Story Behind Mine

Merkel's Pumpkin Patch is part of HC Heritage Farm.

HC stands for Hanson + Cook, family names that represent the generations whose land, cattle, hard work, and stewardship helped make it possible for me to start something new here.

I think that's one of the coolest parts of this.

I'm getting to build something new on the foundation other people in my family built before me.

Hopefully, years from now, I'll be able to look back at this first journal entry and remember exactly where it started.

Before opening day.

Before the first harvest.

Before we even knew if this crazy idea was going to work.

Just a field, a family willing to help, and one question:

What if we actually did this?

Well...

We're doing it.

See you in the patch! 🎃— Taden