A first-year family farm in Capron, Illinois, is closing out pumpkin season early after thieves entered its field last week and stole almost every unharvested orange pumpkin. Meyers Family Farm had already brought in its specialty varieties, but the regular carving pumpkins, the ones families were planning to pick, are gone. With no crop insurance on the books, the farm is skipping this year’s Boone County Farm Stroll altogether.
The owners have been clear about what this actually costs them. They say the financial hit won’t stop them from farming, and they’re already planning for next season. What stings is the lost experience for local families and kids, the wagon rides and muddy shoes and the hunt for the best pumpkin in the patch. They also noted that similar thefts are happening at farms around Poplar Grove and Capron, which suggests this isn’t a one-off.
Their request to the community is simple. Keep an eye on the farms around you, report anything suspicious to police, and keep supporting local growers when you spend your money. Here on the Suncoast, we’ve got plenty of farm stands and patches within a short drive, and most of them are family operations just like this one. So when you pick up your pumpkins this month, where are you going?
