Pumpkin patch, cow train and more at Yankey Farms Stop #1 on PWC Farm Tour Sept. 22-23

This is the 18th year of the Western Prince William County Farm Tour and the 17th year Yankey Farms has participated in the Farm Tour, being held this weekend, Sept. 22-23.

The farm is located at the corner of Owls Nest and Lonesome Roads off Vint Hill Road in Nokesville. Many Yankey family members help out on weekends during the fall and especially at farm tour time.

Visitors will be able to select from pumpkins of various sizes and colors as well as choose fresh fall vegetables. Fall produce available for sale wll include sweet potatoes, winter squash, apples and greens. as well as decorative produce. Local honey is usualy available and amicable beekeepers are nearby to answer all your questions.

Young children often enjoy a ride of the “cow train” for a small separate fee. This train is a series of barrels painted to look like cows and pulled by a tractor, of course. There are games for older children too as well as hay bales to climb, a corn “sand box” and farm animals to inspect.

Adults and children have many questions about farming, which is good because they raise awareness of how food is produced.

Farmer Jay Yankey said he’s often been asked such questions as when are pumpkins planted and how long it takes them to grow? Does one kind of seed produce all these varieties of pumpkin?

He also noted that Bruce Louchen, a local beekeeper, fields a lot of thoughtful questions about honeybees and pollination.

Yankey said the farm plants about 30 varieties of pumpkins, about 90 percent of which are for jack-o-lanterns or decorations.

The best pie varieties that Jay Yankey recommends (when asked) include Long Island cheese, jarrahdale pumpkins and sugar pies. Others that are good for eating, according to Yankey, are cushaws and neck pumpkins. The field of tan, blue, green, white and orange pumpkins creates a colorful patch.

The Farm Tour location is 14039 Owls Nest Rd. in Nokesville.

For those who can’t wait until the Farm Tour, locals know that starting about a week before the tour, the Yankey Farm stand will be open daily–selling pumpkins and decorative fall produce items. The stand is located at 14841 Glenkirk Rd. in Nokesville.

Visit Yankeyfarms.com for more information or http://www.pwcfarmtour.org