Visitors Flock To Sunflower Field In Full Bloom

2019 - Volume #43, Issue #5, Page #08

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When sunflowers bloom, people will come - for photos, picnics, or just to walk through the 6-ft. tall stalks. At least that’s what Dan and Teressa Hall discovered at their farm in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
  Sunflowers are one of the farm’s direct market crops along with sweet corn and corn for deer feed. The sight of a field of sunflowers is unusual in Rock, Mich., so when the Halls started getting calls asking permission to take engagement photos they decided to open the field up to the public free of charge. Since posting the invitation on Facebook 3 years ago, the Halls have been surprised at how many people have taken up the offer.
  “It’s kind of a steady flow for 2 1/2 weeks from the end of July into August,” Teressa says. “On the weekends we have about 2,000 people per day and during the week 400 to 500 per day. We recently had our second wedding out there.”
  There are more than 400,000 sunflowers on the 20-acre field, and Dean makes paths by shutting off a couple rows on the planter. He cuts hay off the field next to the sunflowers so there is plenty of parking and room for picnic tables. A couple of donation boxes give visitors a chance to help fund the extras the Halls have added - wagons for better viewing, a gigantic Adirondack chair, and wooden sunflower cutouts for photos. Visitors can also cut sunflower stalks to take for $1 each or 6 for $5.
  “Occasionally you can even see Sunflower Man walking around,” Hall adds with a laugh.
  The park atmosphere attracts people from rural areas and cities all over the state. Some cry because the flowers are so beautiful, Hall says. Others mark milestones or even make it part of their honeymoon. It was recently cited as one of “Five Epic U.P. Day Trips to Take Before Summer Ends”.
  Their “open to the public” policy turned out to be an effective, though unplanned, marketing move that makes people aware of other ag products the Halls sell. But it’s not the reason they started it or continue it.
  “It educates the public on farming. Kids need to see what farming is, whether or not they can afford a donation,” Hall says.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dan and Teressa Hall, Hall Farms, 2623 St. Nicholas 31st. Rd., Rock, Mich. 49880 (ph 906 359-4818; teressajhall@yahoo.com; Facebook: Hall Farms).

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Visitors Flock To Sunflower Field In Full Bloom CROPS Miscellaneous When sunflowers bloom people will come - for photos picnics or just to walk through the 6-ft tall stalks At least that’s what Dan and Teressa Hall discovered at their farm in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Sunflowers are one of the farm’s direct market crops along with sweet corn and corn for deer feed The sight of a field of sunflowers is unusual in Rock Mich so when the Halls started getting calls asking permission to take engagement photos they decided to open the field up to the public free of charge Since posting the invitation on Facebook 3 years ago the Halls have been surprised at how many people have taken up the offer “It’s kind of a steady flow for 2 1/2 weeks from the end of July into August ” Teressa says “On the weekends we have about 2 000 people per day and during the week 400 to 500 per day We recently had our second wedding out there ” There are more than 400 000 sunflowers on the 20-acre field and Dean makes paths by shutting off a couple rows on the planter He cuts hay off the field next to the sunflowers so there is plenty of parking and room for picnic tables A couple of donation boxes give visitors a chance to help fund the extras the Halls have added - wagons for better viewing a gigantic Adirondack chair and wooden sunflower cutouts for photos Visitors can also cut sunflower stalks to take for $1 each or 6 for $5 “Occasionally you can even see Sunflower Man walking around ” Hall adds with a laugh The park atmosphere attracts people from rural areas and cities all over the state Some cry because the flowers are so beautiful Hall says Others mark milestones or even make it part of their honeymoon It was recently cited as one of “Five Epic U P Day Trips to Take Before Summer Ends” Their “open to the public” policy turned out to be an effective though unplanned marketing move that makes people aware of other ag products the Halls sell But it’s not the reason they started it or continue it “It educates the public on farming Kids need to see what farming is whether or not they can afford a donation ” Hall says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dan and Teressa Hall Hall Farms 2623 St Nicholas 31st Rd Rock Mich 49880 ph 906 359-4818; teressajhall@yahoo com; Facebook: Hall Farms

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