30 Sep 2025 It’s Fall, y’all
By Colleen Holt
Nestled halfway between Conway and Mayflower, there is a fully working farm that takes on a new persona when the leaves on the trees change colors — a place where families make precious fall memories that can last a lifetime.
Let’s take a trip to Schaefers and Collins Pumpkin Patch.
Schaefers and Collins Pumpkin Patch has entertained people for 28 years. Lisa Schaefers said the patch opened Sept. 20 and is open every day through Nov. 1. Among the family-friendly offerings are hayrides, photo opportunities and, of course, pumpkins for sale. This year the family added a corn maze and petting zoo. On the weekends, there are also food trucks and other vendors offering pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo and bounce houses.
The origin of the Pumpkin Patch came when Lisa, a former special education teacher’s aide, became pregnant with her oldest son, Daniel. Since then, she has worked full-time at the farm and home-schooled her children, happy to raise her family in this type of environment. “We would do our school work, then do our chores and then work on the farm,” she said.
Also working at the farm are Lisa’s husband, Daryl, her son, Andy, her brother, Lee Collins, and her parents, Shelby and Wendell Collins. She now enjoys sharing farm life with her first grandchild, Addi, the daughter of Daniel and his wife, Brooklyn. The families also have close friends who help a lot throughout the year. In the spring, the farm offers fresh market produce from March through July, and then work begins on the Pumpkin Patch, as decorating can take a while.
On weekday mornings during the fall, the Pumpkin Patch is filled with the sounds of youngsters on field trips from schools and day cares. Lisa said one of her favorite things is to watch the eyes of the city kids who have never been to a working farm before. “They don’t know what a farm is like,” she said. “They’ll say, ‘Ooh, there’s dirt on that!’ I love to see them just being kids when they are here. Our main purpose is to get school kids out here to have a good time.”
She most enjoys watching families having fun while not spending a lot of money. People from across Arkansas visit the pumpkin patch, something Lisa also attributes to the low cost of having fun. Free admission, free parking and a free play area are just some of the ways a family can keep costs to a minimum. Prices for the hayrides, train rides and corn maze are $10 or less. The weekend vendors and food trucks set their own prices.
Adults can also purchase items for use in their fall decor. On a recent September morning, Lisa was working to fine-tune her sunflower bed, which will include stems in 15 colors. When they are ready, typically around the first or second week of October, the stems will be available for purchase. Other decor options include mums and bales of straw. “It’s a one-stop shop for all your fresh decor needs,” Lisa said.
Reflecting on 28 years of opening the farm to the public, Lisa focused on the family aspect. “Now I’m seeing kids coming back who have their own family. It’s great seeing family and kids repeating the cycle.”
The Schaefers and Collins Pumpkin Patch is open seven days a week now through Nov. 1. Visit their facebook page or call 501.339.4263 for public hours, as well as times reserved for groups.
