For those living in Mid-Missouri, a trip to the pumpkin patch at Lloyd’s Family Farm in Ashland is a favorite fall tradition. But Lloyd’s offers so much more than gourds. From You-Pick berries to Christmas trees, there’s fun for all seasons.
Photo courtesy of Lloyd’s Family Farm
Interview by Sydney Jones
Founded in Ashland, Missouri, Lloyd’s Family Farm has been thriving since the late 1800s. Almost 150 years later, the farm is still alive and growing produce due to operators, Erin and Zach Diederich, who work hard to keep their passion project going.
In recent years, the farm opened its gates to families wanting to catch a glimpse of the beauty of rural life. Erin shares what makes their business outstanding.
Q: What is your role at Lloyd’s Family Farm?
A: I am a co-owner and operator of Lloyd’s. Alongside Zach, I plant, tend, and harvest all crops, as well as work to create memorable activities and areas for guests at our farm.
Q: What history is behind Lloyd’s Family Farm?
A: Lloyd’s has been in my family since 1877. It has been a residential farm since the beginning, supplying the Martin family with both food and income during those early years. We opened the fall pumpkin experience in September of 2014. This is an experience to bring families, friends, and the community together to enjoy time together on a farm.
Q: What was the motivation to continue the family farm?
A: Memories are made year after year with customers on the farm, and we enjoy being a small part of their lives. You-Pick opportunities offer the ability for people to connect to their food and agriculture. Learning and seeing how food is grown, taking pride in picking it, and enjoying the taste difference of truly fresh produce is a great opportunity that Lloyd’s is proud to offer.
Q: What different experiences are offered in the fall?
A: During the fall festival, guests can take a hayride to the You-Pick pumpkin patch to choose their pumpkin, jump on the extra large jumping pillow, swing on tire swings, go down slides, and shop for fall produce, or they can relax in the shade.
Q: What is a favorite memory of yours while working at Lloyd’s?
A: My personal favorite memory of Lloyd’s is being surrounded by our loved ones every season, as they help us to ensure our guests have the best time. We have had many fun times together at Lloyd’s over the last 11 years, and it is always fun to reminisce on how the business has changed since the very early years.
Photo courtesy of Lloyd’s Family farm
Q: What else does your farm offer for visitors?
A: You-Pick strawberries are available during May for guests to come to the farm, see how their fruit is grown, and choose their own to take home to enjoy. You-Pick blackberries are available during the summer months, and we also offer the opportunity for guests to choose their own fruit to enjoy, freeze, or process into jams.
Q: What is the next dream?
A: In 2018, we began planting Christmas trees with a planned harvest for November and December 2024. Families can anticipate hopping on the hayride wagon and heading to the Christmas tree field to choose and cut down their own tree to take home for the holiday season. We think it will be another great season for more harvest memories at Lloyd’s.
Featured photo courtesy of Sydney Jones
Article originally published in the September 2024 issue of Missouri Life.
Related Posts
Where to Go to See the Great Pumpkin Drop
Grab the kids and head over to the St. Charles Regional Airport for a festive lesson on gravity. Airplane pilots take to the sky and drop pumpkins from great heights. Pointless? Maybe. Fun? Absolutely.
All About the Wonderful Fruit Called Pumpkin
Pumpkins are good for so many things. Pie, curries, beer, decorations, and heck, you can even bowl with them. Learn all the wonderful things pumpkins have to offer and why this fruit is so versatile. Maybe you’ll bowl a strike too.
Pumpkin Soup with Cinnamon Croutons!
You will want to make extra cinnamon croutons when you make this soup. They are great little snacks while the soup is cooking. The creamy pumpkin is accented with a bit of maple syrup and honey for the perfect sweetness.
A Pumpkin Palooza by the River
This lovely river town hosts a pumpkin palooza that will delight all with pony rides, a monkey bus, a merchants’ candy crawl, story time, Lollypop the balloon artist, costume judging, pumpkin rolling, plus concessions and vendors.