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Tell us a little about your family’s history with farming and what crops you raise.
Farming goes back to our grandparents, Herb and Dolly (Christina) Schuetz. They moved [to Illinois] from Missouri in 1962. Herb came with determination and a wife and two daughters, and he began buying farm ground and planting fields. He was a natural. Later, his daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Doc, joined in, and eventually his grandson, Jeff.
As we grew older, our parents wanted to instill values and a work ethic in us like they had. What better way to do this than starting a pumpkin patch? What started out as just a small field has turned into about 30 acres of pumpkins raised each Fall season on our farm, Pumpkin Blossom Hill.
What are some ways science and technology play a role on your farm and help you raise your pumpkins?
When the pumpkin patch first started, we found ourselves sitting on an old two-row, horse-drawn Black Hawk planter, dropping pumpkin seeds by hand at the end of June. With the improvement of technology, we can get the pumpkins planted quicker using a larger planter and enjoy the comfort of the air-conditioned tractor cab. We use weed management to control the overbearing weeds and pest management to help ward off insects that enjoy eating our pumpkin plants. Jeff manages all the spraying with his knowledge of chemicals.
We have had 25 years of experience and technology, and these have allowed us to plant the best seeds with high-tech equipment. We also have a Facebook page and website for advertisement purposes for the farm!
Why do you feel it’s important that the Illinois Farm Bureau support the Science Center’s STEM education programs?
The Illinois Farm Bureau is very involved with our large community of farmers. The more learning opportunities that become available, the more knowledge and awareness is brought in for all. STEM offers outstanding [opportunities] for kids. They are our future, and the more information they absorb, the smarter and more improved technology becomes in the STEM and farming community.
We love the idea of something we grew sitting on someone’s doorstep, being admired by passing neighbors. We realize it’s important for our community to know where our crops and food come from. Kids at the Science Center can experience this firsthand in the GROW gallery. Much like the Science Center, we encourage all our customers to bring their families. We love to see the joy on their faces as they bring their children and grandchildren to our farm, all while having the opportunity to learn where their food comes from and the dedication it takes to raise it.
Learn more about Pumpkin Blossom Hill here.
Your Support
Support from donors, Science Center members, and Supporting-level members is instrumental in helping the Science Center continue offering connections to science for everyone in our region. If you’d like to show additional support for our mission, please consider donating to the Science Center’s Curiosity Fund, becoming a member, or becoming a Supporting-level member.
Your Impact
Want to learn more about how the Science Center and its supporters are making a difference for STEM learning in the St. Louis region?
